Adding life to years
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Summary

This case study focuses on partnership working between older people in the Borough of Sefton and the partners in local and regional transport provision. In this case study, the engagement of older people in the development of a new rolling stock for Mersey Rail is highlighted. This new train has been designed with the input of older people and people with disabilities. The second example of partnership working shows how engagement between local older people and the Regional Transport Authority, Mersey Travel, enabled the successful award of Central Government Grant Funding to install a lift into a train station that was inaccessible to many due to access being via a long staircase.

Key facts

Main target group: Older people in general

Other target group(s): people with mobility difficulties

Sector(s): Transportation

Other sector(s): health and wellbeing

Desired outcome for older people:
Be mobile

Other issues the Age-friendly practice aims to address:
  • Ageism
  • Accessibility
  • Ageing in place
  • Healthy behaviours (e.g. physical activity)
  • Inclusion
  • Participation

Contact details

Name: Shenton, Justine

Email address: justine.shenton@seftonadvocacy.org

Preferred language(s): English

Age-friendly practice in detail (click to expand):

Engaging the wider community

Project lead: Older People’s Association

Others involved in the project:
  • Local authorities
  • Social or health care provider

How collaboration worked: We worked collaboratively through our Age Friendly Steering Group – The Sefton Partnership for Older Citizens. Mersey Travel have been a longstanding partner on the Sefton Age Friendly Steering Group. The incorporation of Mersey Travel into the remit of the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority with its elected Metro Mayor, has strengthened our Age Friendly partnership working. This work was project managed by Mersey Rail and The Sefton Older People’s Forums were able to engage at an early stage in the planning, through the Liverpool City Region Approved Providers Scheme. This gave a framework for the involvement and engagement of older people. Funding for the adaptations was achieved via the Access for All Department of Transport funding stream, with the evidence of need supported by the engagement of local older people.

Older people’s involvement: Older people were involved in the age-friendly practice at multiple or all stages

Details on older people’s involvement: Older people were involved at the very early stages of development of the new rolling stock. Older people visited the train in its design stage and contributed to features to improve accessibility. Regarding the successful funding bid for the lift installation, older people gathered evidence to support the need for an accessible train station in this area.

Moving forward

Has the impact of this age-friendly practice been analysed: No

Do you plan to evaluate your age-friendly practice? Yes

Feedback:
Older people and local disability groups are very pleased with the plans for the new trains and the lift installation.

Expansion plans:
Yes we are now planning engagement on a City Region Level with a process which will result in a Spatial Development Plan for the Liverpool City Region and the development of Age Friendly Neighbourhoods.

Looking back

Reflections:
We have been very proud of our Age Friendly Practice and particularly delighted to work with the Centre for Ageing Better to produce this practice as a Case Study publication. Unfortunately Covid-19 has caused some delays in implementing the start of the new rolling on stock and in delivering the lift project. When plans are in place again, we will look forward to evaluating the impact of this work.

Challenges:
We faced some practical challenges in ensuring a proper representative engagement with local older people in Sefton. We addressed this issue by reaching out to older people’s groups and projects throughout the Borough, including older people living in sheltered housing schemes, local care homes and community groups.