Derry council launch Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan

PICTURED ABOVE (Left to right): Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue, with Ciara Burke, Programme Manager, Derry City & Strabane District Council and Fiona Teague, Head of Health & Social Wellbeing Improvement, Public Health Agency along with key stakeholders from the Age Friendly Alliance, Co-design Steering Group, Over 50’s Reference Group and older peoples representatives across the Derry City and Strabane District Council.

Derry City and Strabane District Council has launched its Age Friendly Strategy and Action Plan, funded by the Public Health Agency (PHA), on the first national Ageism Action Day (Wednesday, 20th March).

The launch, which took place in Foyle Arena, was part of the FestivALL Programme, providing a commitment to ensure the Council area continues to be a great place to live and grow older within.

Like many areas, Derry City and Strabane District Council area recognise its ageing population and older citizens provide a valuable contribution to our area. The Strategy and Action Plan strives to ensure that partners work together to address the key actions to enable citizens and an ageing population continue to live an active and fulfilling life.

Derry City and Strabane District Council’s demographic profile will change significantly as its predicted that the older population is growing with a 27% increase predicted in those aged 65-84 years.

The Mayor of DCSDC, Cllr Patricia Logue said, “In 2017 the former Mayor signed a declaration committing to the Age Friendly process by joining the World Health Organisation’s Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and communities.

"Since then significant progress has been achieved towards being Age Friendly, including the review of the Strategic Growth Plan delivering on a new older persons outcome, age friendly being embedded in the local community plans for each of the eight Local Community Group Partnerships Board areas, establishment of an Age Friendly Alliance, an Over 50s Reference Panel and a Co-Design Steering Group as well as numerous events, workshops and activities taking place across our city and district including my regular Tea Dances.

"All these events work towards helping to support our citizens age well.

“I look forward to seeing how the new Strategy and Action Plan, through increased collaboration with all our partners, enables us to make all communities across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area continue to age friendly.”

The views and contributions of over 500 people across the council area have been gathered as part of the co-design process to shape the key needs and priorities which were voiced as the strategy and action plan was developed, and the establishment of the Over 50’s Reference Panel will continue to involve the lived experience as part of the age friendly journey throughout the duration of the strategy and action plan.

The Ageism Action Day is a key part of a new campaign encouraging age without limits, giving people an opportunity to take action in their own lives and communities and provides a chance for everyone to do something to change the narrative about ageing.

Fiona Teague, Head of Health & Social Wellbeing Improvement in the Western area at the Public Health Agency (PHA). said, “Population ageing can be seen as one of the greatest successes of public health.

"However, a key challenge is not only the extension of life expectancy but to ensure those extra years are as healthy for as long as possible. Public health interventions such as physical activity initiatives, falls prevention, home accident prevention, tackling loneliness, and taking the steps to mitigate against frailty can have a significant impact on the quality of ageing in terms of health outcomes and quality of life.

Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Cllr Patricia Logue, with Ciara Burke, Programme Manager, Derry City & Strabane District Council and Fiona Teague , Head of Health & Social Wellbeing Improvement, Public Health Agency launching the Age Friendly Strategy within Derry City and Strabane District Council.

"The PHA has invested over £2.25 million in developing an Age Friendly Northern Ireland, which forms part of the Executive’s strategy for Active Ageing since 2021. We are delighted to be able to support the Derry City and Strabane District Council Age Friendly Strategy and welcome the co-design approach that has been taken to produce the plan.”

The Age Friendly programme is co-ordinated across Derry City and Strabane District Council through funding received from the PHA.

For more information about Age Friendly, please visit www.derrystrabane.com/agefriendly or telephone 028 71 253 253. Visit www.agewithoutlimits.org/action-day for further information on the Ageism Action Day.