New Age Friendly Network aims to make Northern Ireland a better place to age

We are delighted to be working in partnership with the Department for Communities (DfC) and the Public Health Agency (PHA), to launch a new Age Friendly Network for Northern Ireland.

Age Friendly Network NI aims to to promote the Age Friendly ethos and support practitioners in the 11 local councils across Northern Ireland to advance Age Friendly planning and practices.

After two years of preparation and planning, the Age Friendly Network NI is now ready to launch and take forward its work, strengthening the voice of older people and improving outcomes for people of all ages in local communities.

The network was officially launched at the Age Friendly Together 2019 event in Belfast City Hall on Friday 22^nd November. The event brought together 300 guests from across Northern Ireland, including older people, older people’s networks, local councils and representatives from Age NI, DfC and PHA.

Guests heard from a range of speakers and the keynote address was from Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council and President of the Covenant on Demographic Change.

Helping to launch the network, Joan said:

“It’s great to see organisations and people coming together to make Northern Ireland a more age friendly place to live and work. I congratulate everyone involved in today’s launch for their spirit of partnership and cooperation. It’s critical that as well as locally, we all work together nationally and internationally, to ensure that wherever people go, whatever age they are, they feel valued and their voices are heard.”

Age NI will support the Age Friendly  Network to help identify its key priorities, and create opportunities for engagement with older people.

Charity Director, Dr Paschal McKeown closed the launch event saying:

“At Age NI we believe that if the environment and local community is age friendly for older people, then it’s also friendly for children, families and others living, working and socialising there. We’re delighted to be working alongside local councils, the DfC and the PHA promoting the spirit and practice of Age Friendly.”