The Greater Manchester Ageing Conference 2017, organised by the Greater Manchester (GM) Ageing Hub, saw the first ever ageing conference held on a city-region level within Greater Manchester. The Conference showcased Greater Manchester as an international centre of excellence on ageing, promoting best practice in ageing research, policy and practice.

The Greater Manchester Ageing Hub is a collaboration between public, voluntary, community, social enterprise, and academic partners. The Hub works as part of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, to ensure Greater Manchester’s residents are able to live, work and retire in the city-region, while living as fulfilling lives as possible. The University's Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing (MICRA) is a founding member of the Hub.

"Too many older people in our communities are left feeling isolated and we know the terrible effect that loneliness can have on mental and physical wellbeing. In Greater Manchester we want to end isolation and become the best place to age in the UK," said Greater Manchester Mayor, Tony Lloyd. "We will harness all the talents of our city-region to ensure everyone can age with dignity, have a good quality of life and play a full part in society."

Keynote speakers at the conference included:

• Tony Lloyd – Greater Manchester Mayor
• Steven Pleasant - Chair, GM Ageing Hub & Chief Executive, Tameside Council
• Anna Dixon - Chief Executive, Centre for Ageing Better
• Geoff Filkin - Chair, Centre for Ageing Better
• Alana Officer – World Health Organisation
• Professor Chris Phillipson - Professor of Sociology and Social Gerontology, The University of Manchester
• Jon Rouse - Chief Officer, Greater Manchester Health & Social Care Partnership
• Martin Vernon - National Clinical Director for Older People, NHS England

Several significant reports were launched at the event, including:

How long will I love you?  Sex and intimacy in later life – Dr David Lee & Prof Josie Tetley

Developing a strategy for age-friendly Greater Manchester – Prof Chris Phillipson, MICRA

The future of ageing in Greater Manchester – GMCA & New Economy

Interim Mayor of Greater Manchester also made an exciting announcement on the first ever LGBT specific housing scheme for older people in Greater Manchester.  The project will be part of the city’s programme that provides high quality housing for older people, and is the first LGBT majority "Extra Care" scheme in the UK.  Read more here.

Ambition for Ageing facilitated a workshop on involving older people in coproduction, with practical tips and discussion on the realities from local delivery leads in Bolton, Wigan and Manchester.  Check it out here and read Ambition for Ageing & MICRAs report on co-production here.

You can find out more about what happened at the conference by following @GMAgeingHub and #AgeingConf17 on Twitter.