Ageing Equally? was a research project focusing on what makes a good place in which to grow older for people who belong to minority communities. Research from the Ambition for Ageing programme has shown us that marginalisation is linked to the risk of social isolation.

This programme aimed to generate a deeper understanding of what supports wellbeing and what makes places age-friendly for a cross-section of communities of identity or experience within the population of Greater Manchester, in order to prevent social isolation.

Aging Equally? was made up of up to ten large research projects supported by the central Ambition for Ageing team at GMCVO and five smaller research projects supported by the Equalities Board based at the LGBT Foundation. Do Well Ltd provided technical assistance to organisations taking part in Ageing Equally?.

Social and Cultural Barriers to Accessing Services Within Bedoun (Stateless) Arabic Speaking Communities

Ethnic Health Forum researched barriers to accessing services for older people in the Kuwaiti Bedoun community in Central Manchester

• Accessing Services Within Bedoun (Stateless) Arabic Speaking Communities

• Accessing Services Within Bedoun (Stateless) Arabic Speaking Communities (Simpler Version) 

Skills and Assets of Polish People Aged 50+ in Greater Manchester

Europia researched the assets and skills of Polish people aged 50+ in Greater Manchester.

• Skills and Assets of Polish People Aged 50+ in Greater Manchester
•  Skills and Assets of Polish People Aged 50+ in Greater Manchester (Simpler Version)

What Makes A Neighbourhood A Good Place to Grow Older for People With Mental Health Issues?

St George’s Centre researched what makes an age-friendly neighbourhood for older people with long term mental illness who live in the BL1 postcode area of Bolton.

• What Makes A Neighbourhood A Good Place to Grow Older People With Mental Health Issues
• What Makes A Neighbourhood A Good Place to Grow Older People With Mental Health Issue (Simpler Version)

Our Elders, Our Salford - What makes an age-friendly neighbourhood for older refugees in Salford

Visible Outcomes researched what makes an age-friendly neighbourhood for refugees over 50 years old who live in Salford.

• Our Elders Our Salford
• Our Elders Our Salford (Simpler Version) 

On Lok Wo 安樂窩 - A Safe and Happy Home

Wai Yin researched how Chinese older people, especially disabled people and those who speak different community languages, can grow old and happy.

• On Lok Wo 安樂窩 - A Safe and Happy Home
• On Lok Wo 安樂窩 - A Safe and Happy Home (Simpler Version)

Upcoming Reports

• Change, Grow, Live Manchester in partnership with Broom/Gekoski considered how older people in recovery from substance misuse experience ageing in Tameside, using research methods such as interviews, relfective workshops, surveys mapping and co-researchers. 

• Europia looked at the challenges faced by European expatriates aged 50+, by targeting Romanian, Czech, Portuguese, Polish and Roma communities living in Greater Manchester, with a focus on Salford, Tameside, Oldham and Bolton. The research foced on their wellbeing and identity, using surveys, focus groups and interviews.

• Halal Incorp looked at Muslim men aged 50+ in Central Rochdale, largely a community who live in poor housing, suffer from discrimination and social and economic deprivation. Surveys, focus groups and walking interviews were used to collect data.

• Henshaws sought to increase awareness and understanding of the needs of visually impaired older people, including gaps and exclusions that may lead to them being isolated. It aimed to generate evidence to evaluate the case for community-specific provision through a comparative study of two neighbourhoods, and of what is needed for older visually impaired people to be fully included in service provision. They worked in North and South Manchester, predominantly Harpurhey and Wythenshawe using surveys, focus groups and walking interviews. 

• Manchester Congolese Organisation (MaCO) looked at what factors affect how elders in the Francophone African community age well in Manchester City Centre. It sought to understand what this group understands by ageing well and how, in the context and conditions of forced migration, place can influence this. Research methods included baseline surveys, 3 month follow-ups and fortnightly diary entries. 

• Manchester Deaf Centre looked at ageing deaf sign language users aged 50+ in Bolton, Oldham and Tameside. It considered how this group defines ‘neighbourhood’, who they consider allies, and looked at everyday experiences of being a local citizen in their borough through focus groups. 

• Oldham Coliseum Theatre focused on the role that textiles play for Pakistani women aged 55+ in  Glodwick, Oldham to highlight what makes Oldham a good place to age. The use of textiles relates to their significance in memories of ‘home’. Outputs included a performance and exhibition based on research findings, as well as a workshop and publication. 

• Rethink Rebuild Society looked at older Syrian refugees in Salford and Oldham. Data collection methods included walking interviews and photovoice wherein participants captured their daily lives though photographs.

• Uni Consulting, Unique Improvements Ltd looked at the older Jewish community in Broughton, Salford to understand their community and identify positive aspects of the community. They also identified which areas promote a good standard of health and wellbeing. 

• Wai Yin Society explored traditional Chinese beliefs of growing old, as well as difficulties faced by the older disadvantaged Chinese community in their daily lives, and gaps in services provided in order to reduce isolation and loneliness. They worked with members of Sheung Lok Wellbeing Centre of Wai Yin Society, and the primary research method was interviews.

As a precursor to the launch of Ageing Equally?, the Ambition for Ageing Equalities Board commissioned five research reports into marginalised communities. A report summarising these five reports is available by clicking here.

Join Us, Join Us: Make Meetings Better For People with Learning Disabilities

Manchester People First carried aimed to look at ways of making meetings easier for people with a learning disability to take part in.

• Join Us, Join Us: Making Meetings Better Project Report
• Making information easier for everyone: How to make documents easier to read
• Ideas for better meetings

Out of Sight Project Report

Henshaws ran a project to gain insight into current provision for older people across GM and how accessible organisations are for people with sight loss. They also aimed to gain further understanding of what works well in terms of Visual Impairment Awareness Trainingand what else could be done to improve provision.

• Out of Sight Project

Sat Cung 失聰 - Hearing Loss - Exploring the Needs of Hard of Hearing Chinese Older People

The Wai Yin Society carried out research into the concept of hearing loss for older hard of hearing chinese people.

• Sat Cung 失聰 - Hearing Loss

Ambitions for Ageing: Experiences of Older Deaf people

Manchester Deaf Centre gathered information from the Manchester Deaf community in order understand their experiences of ageing and isolation, and what they needed in order to feel independent, fulfilled and more included in society.

• Ambitions for Ageing: Deaf Access

Experiences and Challenges of aged 50+ Polish Expats in Greater Manchester

The research, carried out by Europia, explored the situation of Polish nationals in Manchester over the age of 50 who  moved to the UK as EU migrants after 2004

• Experiences and Challenges of aged 50+ Polish Expats in Greater Manchester