Each year on October 1, people around the world observe the United Nations International Day of Older People.

The day is dedicated to raising awareness about the opportunities and challenges faced by ageing populations, and mobilising the community to address the difficulties encountered by older adults.

At North Herts & Stevenage CVS, we believe that older people play a vital role in strengthening our communities; they are workers, carers, volunteers, activists, and connectors.

However, these contributions are often overlooked or restricted by ageism and various societal and physical barriers.

In line with our commitment to supporting older people in our area, we have partnered with Age UK Hertfordshire and Hertfordshire County Council Public Health to launch an ambitious initiative aimed at transforming Hertfordshire into an Age-Friendly Community.

Excitingly, Hertfordshire has just been accredited as the only two-tier authority in the UK to achieve this recognition.

This partnership will work alongside residents, local organisations, government bodies, and the national Centre for Ageing Better to ensure that older people in Hertfordshire are valued and able to live well throughout their later years.

Our vision is to make Hertfordshire the best county to age in. An Age-Friendly Community is one where individuals can enjoy a healthy, fulfilling later life.

It is a place where residents are encouraged to engage in meaningful activities and contribute to their communities for as long as possible.

Here, the physical and social environments are designed to enable older residents to maintain good health and fully participate in society. Achieving this involves adapting local services and infrastructure to be inclusive and accessible, while actively challenging ageism.

Age-Friendly Communities focus on eight key areas that contribute to healthier, happier, and safer experiences of ageing. Improvements depend on the specific needs of each community, but the goal is to bring together local partners and older people to create positive changes.

In the next 20 years, nearly a quarter of Hertfordshire’s population will be aged over 65, up from the current 18 per cent.

This significant increase makes it crucial to address the challenges and opportunities of an ageing society.

Creating an Age-Friendly Hertfordshire will improve quality of life for older residents and benefit the wider community by fostering a more inclusive, supportive, and vibrant environment.

This initiative can reduce health and social care costs, combat social isolation, improve mental health, increase volunteering, and stimulate the local economy by encouraging older adults to stay active and engaged.

This project is a collaborative effort, and needs your help! Over the next 12 months, the Age-Friendly Hertfordshire team will be working with residents, organisations, groups, clubs and the national Centre for Ageing Better to identify what is needed to make it a truly age-friendly county.

The starting point is engaging with older people themselves through an online survey.

The results will inform an evaluation report highlighting our strengths and areas for improvement, and an action plan will outline the steps needed to achieve lasting progress toward age-friendly status.

All over-55s are requested to complete the survey at https://bit.ly/3WVejZd.

Local residents, community groups, businesses, and voluntary sector organisations are invited to play their part.

The team are keen to hear about any ongoing projects aligned with Age-Friendly goals, or an interest in incorporating older people into future planning.

Your insights, experiences, and support are crucial in making Hertfordshire the best place to age.

To get involved or stay updated with this initiative, please contact the team at Agefriendly@ageukherts.org.uk.