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Paddy Leonard, 8 Jul
Members of the Age Friendly Network NI are this week celebrating five
years of partnership.
Launched in 2019, the network has a membership of Age Friendly Officers
from all 11 Council areas and representatives from the Age Sector
Networks, Department for Communities, Public Health Agency and Age NI.
The PHA funds local councils to implement the WHO Age Friendly
Communities model.
The model proposes eight interconnected domains that can help to
identify and address barriers to the well-being and participation of
older people.
The mission of the network is to enhance age-friendly connections
across Northern Ireland by advocating for inclusive policies, promoting
awareness, ensuring equal access to services, and empowering
communities through engagement and support.
They aim to create a partnership and environment that respect and value
older individuals, ensuring their well-being and social inclusion.
Marking the anniversary, Age Friendly Co-Ordinator with Derry City and
Strabane District Council, Pauline O’Neill said: “The Age Friendly
Network NI really demonstrates the benefits of partnership working and
how the sharing of expertise and information can help bring about real
and lasting change.
“I am delighted to mark this milestone in the partnership’s journey and
I look forward to continuing this positive work to improve society for
the older community over the coming years.”
Speaking about the network, Co-Chair Jenny Marshall commented: “It has
been wonderful to witness the development of the network over the past
five years.
“The great partnership model between statutory and community helps
shape our work to ensure that grass roots community development is key
to influencing our strategic objectives, in a bid to help Northern
Ireland develop an age friendly agenda.”
Priorities for the network are based on the eight pillars of
Age-Friendly and include resourcing of the Age Sector Networks,
communication & information, transport and age-friendly design
principles.
A Network Steering Group has been established to develop a two-year
action plan.
The Age Friendly Network NI aims to ensure that stakeholders including
Councils at local government level, Age Sector Networks and Age NI from
the third sector, alongside central government, work together to drive
an Age Friendly agenda and make Northern Ireland an ‘age friendly’
region in which people, as they grow older, are supported to live well;
live a life that is dignified and fulfilled; have their rights and
independence promoted, their participation valued and their voices
listened to.