Rhondda Cynon Taf Council are pleased to announce our recognition as an age-friendly community after becoming a member of the World Health Organisation’s Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. The network is a global movement of communities, cities, and other sub-national levels of government that are striving to better meet the needs of older residents.
By joining the network, we commit to championing the values and principles central to the WHO Age-friendly approach, which includes improving local age-friendly environments and sharing experiences and development opportunities with other members and partners.
Councillor Gareth Caple, Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Age Friendly Champion, said: “I am delighted to say that Rhondda Cynon Taf Council have become a member of the WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities.
“This is an excellent partnership initiative that showcases our dedication as an organisation to becoming more age friendly by working with older people to understand how we can best support them to live fulfilling lives.
“As a community, we must embrace and celebrate the principles of age-friendliness by committing to value our older residents and the rich experiences and wisdom that they bring to society. This way, we can ensure that older individuals feel like active members of an inclusive and supportive community.”
To mark this accomplishment, the Older Person’s Commissioner for Wales, Heléna Herklots CBE, was invited to visit RCT on May 1st. During the visit, the Council highlighted existing age-friendly support, activities and services that are available within our local communities.
Which include:
- Linc Cymru’s Extra Care Facility at Cwrt-yr-Orsaf
- Taf Ely 50+ Forum’s Chair Yoga (YMa)
- Growing Space Pontypridd CIC
- Tablet and Smartphone Training Session (Pontypridd Library)
- RCT Community Support Steering Group
- Neighbourhood Networks
- 50+ Forums
- Older Persons Advisory Group (OPAG)
- Dementia Community Listening Campaign Local Listeners
- Dementia Friendly Pontypridd’s “Turning Ponty Blue”
- Age Connects Morgannwg
- Cwm Taf Care & Repair
- Alzheimer’s Society
- Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB
- Interlink RCT
- And many more local grass roots community organisations and groups.
Heléna Herklots CBE, the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, said: “It was a pleasure to visit RCT to see some of the great initiatives underway to support people to age well for myself, and I’d like to congratulate the council for its successful application to join the World Health Organisation’s Global Network as part of its work to make its communities more age friendly.
“This reaffirms RCT’s commitment to ensuring all of its residents are supported to age well and demonstrates the progress we are making in Wales to ‘add life to years and not just years to life’.
“Joining the Network will not only provides opportunities to learn from other cities, communities and organisations throughout the world, but will also enable RCT to highlight and showcase the work they are delivering to support older people to age well on a global stage.
“I am really pleased that another Welsh local authority has become a member of the Network, and that many others are currently finalising their own applications to join, which brings us another step closer to making our ambition of an age-friendly Wales a reality.”
The WHO Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities was established in 2010 to connect cities, communities, and organisations worldwide with the common vision of making their community a great place to grow old in.
As a response to global population ageing, it focuses on action at the local level that fosters the full participation of older people in community life and promotes healthy and active ageing.
All members of the WHO Age-friendly network have the desire and commitment to create physical and social environments that promote healthy and active ageing and good quality of life for older residents.
For more information, please visit: https://extranet.who.int/agefriendlyworld/who-network/
To find out more about the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, please visit: https://olderpeople.wales/
Posted on 03/05/2024