We had another great Intergenerational Social Action Board (ISAB) meeting yesterday evening. Older and younger Board members discussed the Age-Friendly Awards and reflected on the themes of Age Without Limits Day.
Reflecting on the Age-Friendly Awards
This was the first Board meeting since the Age-Friendly Awards, which took place in April. The ISAB played a key role in the event, shaping its format and coming up with brilliant ideas to make the event a success and ensure our nominees and award winners felt special.
There were some great suggestions for next time, including ways of sharing more information about the nominees and building in more spaces for guests to get to know each other.
The Age-Friendly Awards, Wednesday 30th April
Age Without Limits Day: Celebrating ageing and challenging ageism
We also had a fascinating conversation about ageism, inspired by Age Without Limits’ conversation starters. Below are some of the stories that were shared on the theme of ageism, which highlight just how important it is for people of all ages to share their experiences:
“I was in my late 20s and they were looking for people to become hosts and guides in the city where I lived. I was told that I was too old to be a host. It made me feel put on the shelf at 27. It’s something you don’t expect at that age and it made me battle to go into frontline work and social work, as it’s considered to be within a young person’s remit.”
“I’ve been told by some young people that I’m too old and what do I know when I try to give them advice. In many cases, it hurts - especially when you can see a young person taking the wrong road and you want to redirect them, only to find that you’re brushed aside. “
“I went into a shop to buy a toy and the shopkeeper told me I was too old for the thing I wanted to buy. A lot of young people are rediscovering childhood toys and hobbies - it could be reverse childhood because children are so exposed to social media and the digital world when they’re young.”
We also discussed some ways we could celebrate ageing. Here were some suggestions:
“I’d love to dedicate a day for grandparents and older guardians that highlight the great work grandparents specifically do. Some countries focus on grandparents a lot, more than we do in England. They have a day for their ancestors and they have ways of celebrating them. I’d love to bring that way of thinking to the UK.”
“Teaching younger people the different ways we can play outside, like how to skip. I want to invite kids to a skipping club!”
Age Without Limits is the Centre for Ageing Better’s campaign to challenge ageism for the benefit of us all as we grow older. The Age Without Limits campaign runs activities across the year to change how we all think and act about age and to challenge ageism. Age Without Limits Day was on the 11th June.
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