Denbighshire joins World Health Organisation’s Age-friendly Global Network

Denbighshire County Council, in partnership with the Ageing Well Denbighshire Network has recently had its application approved to join the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Network for Age-friendly Communities.

This membership allows access to information sharing and networking with a global community and support from a global network who are committed to fostering age-friendly environments.

The application was put together by the partners of Ageing Well Denbighshire and was informed by feedback from older people across Denbighshire.

Denbighshire County Council, and partners in the Ageing Well Network, Age Connects, have also been recognised by the Centre for Ageing Better as age friendly employers.

Signing the Age-friendly Employer Pledge earlier this year solidifies the Council’s stance on its older people policy and their values and rights.

Ann Lloyd, Head of Service for Adult Social Care and Homelessness said:

“I am thrilled that we have had our application approved and want to thank everyone involved for their contribution, this has truly been partnership working at its best. As a member of the Global Network of Age-friendly communities we can learn and share experiences with other members right across the world and bring that learning into Denbighshire.

I would like to encourage other employers in Denbighshire to sign up for the Age-Friendly Employer pledge, recognising the skills, experience and knowledge older people can bring to the workplace.”

Councillor Elen Heaton, Lead Member for Health and Social Care said:

“Everybody deserves to grow older in a community that is inclusive, understanding, and supportive, and that’s what makes the work of our Ageing Well in Denbighshire Network so invaluable.

Being accepted into the WHO’s Global Network of Age-friendly Communities is an incredible achievement for Denbighshire and its partners. It reflects our shared commitment to making sure that as we age, we can live well, stay connected, and feel valued in our communities.

This would not have been possible without the sheer dedication of the Chair, Vice-Chair, and everyone involved across our partner organisations. This achievement is only the beginning, and together, as a strong network, we will continue to deliver on our ambitions set out in our WHO-approved action plan.”