Tameside areas win age-friendly status

Four more Tameside communities have been given age-friendly neighbourhood status, as Greater Manchester looks to be one of the best places in the world to grow older.

Denton North, Denton West (Dane Bank), Droylsden and Dukinfield have joined Denton South, Mottram, Newton and Waterloo which were successful last year.

All four areas have many fine examples of work where older people take the lead. Among those in Dukinfield is Noah’s Art, which runs animal-rescue therapy sessions from the Together Centre on Birch Lane.

In Droylsden, St Martin’s Church is a Place of Welcome. Denton has Denton Park Social Bowling Club, and Dane Bank has a community choir and cinema.

At an event today (February 6), representatives of those communities gathered at Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester to celebrate their success.

They shared the work they have been doing, learned from each other, and looked at ways age-friendly neighbourhoods could network in future.

Tameside Council’s executive leader, Cllr Brenda Warrington, who is age-friendly lead for Greater Manchester and represents the Denton West ward, said: “We are all growing older, so being age-friendly is in the interest of everyone across the city-region.

“All our winners are the shining lights of age-friendliness in Greater Manchester. The winners are fantastic examples of communities and public services coming together to help people age well and live their best life in places they love.”

Metro mayor Andy Burnham launched his Age-Friendly Challenge in 2018 to recognise the hard work of organisations and older people. Since then 53 neighbourhoods, across all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester, have been recognised.

The Age-Friendly Challenge is open to the voluntary and community sector, public services, and older people’s groups. Work could include offering community activities and initiatives, improving older people’s quality of life, and celebrating age-friendly employers.

Mr Burnham added: “All our age-friendly challenge winners should be proud of the incredible work they are doing to make Greater Manchester a great place to grow older.

“Huge congratulations to all the winners for achieving age-friendly status and for all their efforts.”