Age Friendly Norwich: Building a City Where Everyone Can Age Well

This summer has been a season of progress, partnership, and purpose for the Age Friendly Norwich team, who have been working tirelessly to make Norwich a great place to grow older. From transport accessibility to age-friendly workplaces and community events, the team has been leading initiatives that ensure older residents can thrive across every aspect of city life.

Age Friendly Norwich is part of the UK Network of Age Friendly Communities, supported by the Centre for Ageing Better and working in partnership with Norwich City Council, Age UK Norwich, and a range of local organisations and volunteers.

Together, they are building an inclusive city where everyone can age with confidence, connection, and purpose.

Read on to see what the team have been doing this summer to make Norwich an even more age-friendly city.

Improving Travel Connections

The Age Friendly Travel Connections project has brought together major transport partners, including Norfolk County Council, local bus and train operators, taxi and community transport services, and active travel providers. Their shared goal is to make getting around Norwich easier and more inclusive.

One major success is the permanent introduction of the mobility bus service from County Hall car park to Carrow Road for all Norwich City Football Club home games, an excellent example of partnership working to improve accessibility for all.

Shaping Norwich Together

The Age Friendly team has played an active role in several Norwich City Council consultations, ensuring that older voices are represented in major city developments. These include the Hay Hill review, Castle Gardens redevelopment, City Hall accessibility improvements, Norwich Market enhancements, and the Sloughbottom Park development, where the team sits on the steering group.

“Your city, your voice – and we’re here to represent the needs of our ageing population,” said the Age Friendly Norwich team.

Challenging Ageism and Promoting Inclusion

The first Wise Up to Ageism (WU2A) training workshop took place on 24th July at Dragon Hall, attracting delegates from across East Anglia in sectors such as care, education, business, and transport. The event encouraged participants to reflect on and challenge ageist attitudes, with overwhelmingly positive feedback. More sessions are being planned for later this year.

Community Connections and Events

The team has been busy strengthening community links throughout the summer and autumn:

• Norwich Airport Accessibility Forum (10th September): A collaborative session to improve accessibility and inclusion at the airport.
• International Day for Older People (1st October): Hosted by Aviva at Marble Hall, this event promoted health and wellbeing with free blood pressure checks, gait analysis, and activities that challenge ageing stereotypes.
• Care for Carers Information Event (10th October): At The Forum, the team joined local organisations to connect carers an charities with vital support services.

New Initiatives on the Horizon

Exciting projects are taking shape across the city:

• Mall Walking: In partnership with Castle Quarter Shopping Centre, this free and sociable walking programme will launch soon, offering a safe, warm and welcoming way to stay active indoors.
• Community Street & Access Audits: Working with Norwich City Council and local groups like Living Streets, the team is co-designing a practical format to assess accessibility and inform city action.
• State of Housing in Norwich – Snapshot Report: Building on the 2024 State of Ageing in Norwich report, this new research focuses on housing needs and challenges for older people.

Championing Age Friendly Employers

The Age Friendly Employers Network continues to grow, welcoming organisations including the National Centre for Writing, Konnect Bus, St Martins Housing, Norwich Airport, Norwich Door to Door, Home Instead, Norfolk and Suffolk Care Support, and Hear for Norfolk.

Age UK Norwich also represented the city at the Age Friendly Employer Pledge Connections event in London, joining national discussions on the future of work and ageing.

The Age Friendly Employer Pledge is free and open to all UK employers committed to supporting workers aged 50+.

Celebrating a Busy Summer

From consultations to community events, the Age Friendly Norwich team has demonstrated how collaboration and creativity can make a lasting difference.

Denise Troughton, from the Age Friendly Norwich team, said “It’s been a fantastic summer of partnership and progress. We’re proud to work alongside so many local organisations to make Norwich a city where people of all ages can live, work and age well.”