Cornwall Joins UK Network of Age-friendly Communities

Cornwall has officially joined the UK Network of Age-friendly Communities, linking the county with a national group focused on improving life for older residents.

Led by Cornwall Council, the successful application connects Cornwall to a network that already serves more than 10 million people across areas including Dorset, Manchester and Bristol.

What This Means for Cornwall

Age-friendly communities are designed to help people stay active, connected and independent as they get older. The approach aims to support better health while reducing reliance on urgent care services.

The concept was first developed by the World Health Organization, which launched its Global Age-Friendly Cities and Communities programme in 2007. It focuses on making everyday environments more accessible, from community spaces to town centres, while encouraging social engagement.

A Focus on Living Well

Cabinet Member for Adults and Health Partnerships, Cllr Jim McKenna said:

“I am delighted that we have been given the go ahead to become part of the Age Friendly Communtiy network, but this is where the hard work begins.

“We have brought together a great team of individuals from the NHS, private, sector, charities and voluntary sector to lead on this.

“They are all passionate on supporting people to live well and age well, and this gives us a platform and ideas to build from.”

The move is expected to bring practical benefits, with other areas in the network seeing improvements to parks, open spaces, pedestrian crossings and town centres. These changes can help older residents remain independent and engaged in their communities.

Responding to an Ageing Population

Natalie Turner, Deputy Director for Localities at Centre for Ageing Better, said:

“The population of the UK is ageing, with one in four people expected to be over 65 by 2050.

“The fact that people are living longer is cause for celebration, but it is important that we take proactive steps to allow people to age well.

“We are delighted Cornwall has joined the growing number of areas committing to supporting the needs of our ageing population.

“Age-friendly Communities support healthy and active ageing and allow older residents to help shape the place that they live in.

“In these communities, older people can continue to live in their homes and participate in activities that they value, whilst contributing to their communities.”

With almost half of Cornwall’s population now over the age of 50, the move is seen as a step towards preparing for future challenges.

What Happens Next

According to Jim, the council has already gathered feedback from nearly 4,000 people through its recent Age Friendly Survey.

“One of our cabinet priorities is about supporting people to live healthy and dignified lives, and being part of this network will enable us to learn from other areas and to develop our approach.

“In our recent Age Friendly Survey, almost four thousand people told us what would make Cornwall a better place to grow old and now we can start working towards delivering on some of those.”

The approach is also expected to bring wider benefits, including reducing social isolation, improving mental health, increasing volunteering and supporting local economies by keeping older residents active and involved.