Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council pledged its commitment to supporting older people’s right to live a full, active, and healthy life by unveiling the region’s first Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan 2022-2025 in October 2022. Developed by the Armagh, Banbridge and Craigavon (ABC) Age Friendly Alliance – a collaboration of key stakeholders from public, community, and voluntary sectors – the new strategy and three-year action plan will work to ensure all residents in the borough can live in security, enjoy good health, continue to participate fully in society, and feel valued and respected – regardless of age.

The Age Friendly Officer (AFO) sits on a number of innovative groups that actively encourage participation of older people. During Covid the AFO pulled together a Council internal working group to look at best practice and linkages between departments on how to get key messages out to older people. Paying particular attention to channels of communication that are not online as majority 58% of older people aged 65+ in ABC Council area have never accessed the internet. As a result of this and working in partnership with ABC Seniors Network, a new 12 page Newsletter has been compiled and printed and 2000 copies x 2 editions per year distributed to digitally excluded older people highlighting health and wellbeing messages.

The Age Friendly Officer also facilitates a working group made up of Statutory, Community and Voluntary partners to promote and offer programmes during Positive Ageing Month in October continually working with other agencies to highlight and promote age friendly services.

In partnership with Linking Generations Northern Ireland, an ABC Intergenerational Network was established. This network provides advice, guidance and support and connects young and older generations together. This has been a great opportunity to tackles issues around stereotyping and ageism.