Age Friendly Network NI Brings Councils Together to Shape a More Inclusive Future for Older People

The Age Friendly Network NI hosted the Age Friendly Futures Summit on 4 November at the Titanic Conference Centre, Belfast, bringing together senior representatives from government, local councils, and the community and voluntary sectors.

Delegates from all 11 council areas across Northern Ireland attended the event, which aimed to strengthen collaboration and set a shared vision for creating communities that are inclusive, supportive, and responsive to the needs of older people.

Focusing on three key objectives — raising awareness of Age Friendly Northern Ireland, influencing policy direction, and setting the future direction of the Age Friendly movement — the Summit provided an opportunity to share learning, showcase good practice, and highlight progress being made across the region.

Attendees explored the core elements that make up an Age Friendly Community and reviewed the latest evaluation findings, which underline the importance of planning effectively for an ageing population.

The Summit reaffirmed the commitment of councils and partners to work collectively to ensure that older people can live well, participate fully, and remain connected within their local communities.

The event marked an important milestone in the ongoing development of Age Friendly Northern Ireland, supporting a shared ambition to make the region one of the best places in the world to grow older.