Older people will take centre stage this week as Manchester marks the UN International Day of Older Persons today with the launch of a groundbreaking set of Age Friendly Leisure Standards.
Manchester is the first city in the UK to set out a new framework to make leisure centres more welcoming, inclusive, and accessible for older people.
The city will also be lighting up four iconic Manchester buildings in purple – the colour symbolising dignity and respect for older people.
The new leisure standards will be launched at an event hosted by the Age Friendly Manchester Assembly and with the Lord Mayor of Manchester, Cllr Carmine Grimshaw, with activities ranging from a live performance of Cantonese Opera to a taster session exploring the mental and physical health benefits of singing.
The leisure standards developed through a unique partnership between Manchester City Council, Manchester Active, GLL (the UK’s largest leisure operator), Age Friendly Manchester, and the Centre for Ageing Better, builds on the city’s established Age Friendly standards in culture and libraries. It marks a significant step in recognising the importance of supporting an ageing population to remain active, connected, and engaged in community life.
The standards are in response to a consultation which had older people at the heart of the process and codesigned with the Age Friendly Older People’s Board.
The Age Friendly Commitments, include accessible environments, social spaces, inclusive activities, and an annual review process with older people and Age Friendly Manchester to ensure continuous improvement in leisure centres.
While the standards are initially being implemented across seven of Manchester’s community leisure centres they will be introduced across all community leisure centres later this year, with the framework designed so that other local and national leisure providers can adopt it too. The aim is to create a sector-wide approach that improves how leisure facilities engage with older people across the UK.
Councillor Thomas Robinson, Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care said:
“Access to inclusive leisure opportunities is central to healthy ageing. These standards will ensure older adults are better supported to remain physically active, socially connected, and independent for longer, reducing pressures on health and social care and is part of our ongoing commitment through our Making Manchester Fairer programme to reduce health inequalities across communities in our city.”
