The UK Network of Age-friendly Communities: a general review
ISSN: 1366-3666
Article publication date: 24 January 2018
Issue publication date: 14 March 2018
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a detailed account of the work and contribution of the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities, a platform established to support the development of age-friendly communities across the UK.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper draws on a review of both external and internal working documents, communications with network representatives, and an in-depth interview conducted with the current manager of the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities.
Findings
Since its formation, the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities has provided cities with an important platform for knowledge exchange and peer support, and helped build commitment to the age-friendly agenda at the local, national and international level. Through the presentation of various examples, the article illustrates that network members have not only helped drive this agenda forward by developing a collective voice, but also by developing a wide range of initiatives at the local level.
Originality/value
Despite an increased interest in documenting age-friendly experiences around the world, the experience of national programmes remains under-explored in the age-friendly literature to date. To the knowledge, this paper is one of the first to describe the work and contribution of the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The author would like to thank Jessica Entwistle for her support and assistance in the development of this paper, Professor Chris Phillipson and Paul McGarry for their valuable feedback, network representatives who provided additional information on their respective programmes, and the Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing. This work has been supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) through a Doctoral Fellowship, the University of Manchester School of Social Sciences, and Manchester City Council.
Citation
Rémillard-Boilard, S. (2018), "The UK Network of Age-friendly Communities: a general review", Working with Older People, Vol. 22 No. 1, pp. 30-38. https://doi.org/10.1108/WWOP-12-2017-0034
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited