"Ageing Equally?" Research Reports

Ageing Equally? was an Ambition for Ageing research programme focusing on what makes a good place in which to grow older for people who belong to minority communities. Research from the GMCVO-led 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.

Ageing Equally? produced thirteen reports in total: eight were larger research projects and five were smaller research projects which were managed by the Ambition for Ageing Equalities Board. Below you can find a link to each report and a simpler summary of each report.

At the bottom of this page you can also find five reports on marginalised communities in Greater Manchester, as well as a summary of the five. These reports were a pre-curser to the Ageing Equally programme, and were commissioned and managed by our Equalities Board based at the LGBT Foundation.

Larger research projects

The Equalities Board have published a short report compiling the key findings from the Ageing Equally research projects that relate to ageing well in place for marginalised communities more generally. You can read this report here: Insights from the Ageing Equally research projects.

A Case Study of Elderly Syrian Refugees in Salford and Oldham

By Rethink Rebuild Society. Data collection methods included walking interviews and to find out how people related to their neighbourhoods, and photovoice wherein participants captured their daily lives though photographs.

Ageing Equally within Chinese Communities?

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.

Ageing in Exile; Francophone Elders in Manchester

Manchester Congolese Organisation (MaCO) looked at what factors affect how elders in the Francophone African community age well in Manchester. 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.

Ageing in Recovery in Tameside

Change, Grow, Live in partnership with Broom/Gekoski considered how older people in recovery from substance misuse experience ageing in Tameside.

Belonging in Rochdale

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.

Textiles, Place and Generation: From Pakistan to Oldham

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’.

Understanding European Expats over 50 in Greater Manchester

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.

Visually Impaired Older People’s Experiences of Two Manchester Neighbourhoods

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.

Smaller research projects, managed by the Equalities Board

The Equalities Board have published a report evaluating their experience of commissioning and managing these shorter Ageing Equally? research projects. You can read this report here: The Value of Small Community-Led Equalities Research

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

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)

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.

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.

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.

**Other research projects, prior to the Ageing Equally? programme**

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.

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

Join Us, Join In: 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.

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.