A NEW partnership aims to strengthen the voice of older people in the district.

The Bradford District Positive Ageing Partnership currently comprises more than 15 voluntary and community-sector organisations which support, provide services for or work alongside older people.

An official launch of the new venture took place on UN International Older People’s Day.

The initiative follows on from the former Older People’s Partnership, led by Bradford Council, which ended in 2017.

Stephanie Smith – director of services at Age UK Bradford District, and chairman of the new partnership – said: “We have a wonderful voluntary and community sector in Bradford and the Positive Ageing Partnership is an opportunity for us to come together and work collaboratively to make Bradford district all-age-friendly.

“We want to encourage as many groups as possible that work alongside older people in their communities, as well as older people themselves living across Bradford district, to support this partnership and get involved.”

Rachel Neualerts – from Positive Minds, which supports older people and the agencies and organisations that work with them – said Bradford district had “fantastic” groups and services for older people and she welcomed the partnership.

“It gives us all the opportunity to make links with each other for the benefit of older people,” she added.

Others involved include community mental health organisation, Sharing Voices.

Masira Hans, for the organisation, said: “We became involved to champion the voices of black and minority ethnic communities, to ensure services are accessible and equitable for all the communities that reside in our district and to highlight the additional cultural issues pertaining to older people.

“We believe this is a much-needed initiative and that it will bring service providers together for wider perspectives on the current services and promote partnership working across the system.

“The organisations involved have been working together over the last year to establish the new partnership, which will focus on engaging with older people as well as contributing to the district’s strategies that impact on older people living in our communities.

“They will also work alongside statutory partners to help make Bradford an all-age-friendly district.”

The stated purpose of the new partnership is to “support a way for individuals, organisations and professionals to communicate, plan and share ideas to bring together and strengthen a voice for older people.

“Our vision is that by working together we will ensure that older people, across our district, have a voice that is listened to about issues that are important to them.”