City festival celebrates older people
An exciting two-week festival celebrating the achievements and contributions older people make to life in Brighton and Hove will run from Monday 26 September to Friday 7 October.
Hundreds of events at dozens of different venues across the city are being backed by £10,000 of funding from Brighton & Hove City Council’s public health team.
The festival has been specially designed for people aged 50+ and aims to get hundreds of people actively involved and enjoying themselves. It also hopes to tackle negative stereotypes around ageing, and raise awareness of the benefits of maintaining good health and resilience in older age.
The events, which have been organised by local group Impact Initiatives, include:
- Northern Soul and Motown Night
- Magical Mystery and Parliament tours
- Debate a hot topic with Dorothy Stringer pupils
- iTea and Tablets – smart phone, laptop and tablet workshop
- Physical Fitness MOT
- Dance, singing, flower arranging, magic and art workshops
- ‘Festival in a day’ with live entertainment, food tasting and Twitter training on Older People’s Day – Saturday 1 October – at Brighton’s Open Market.
The events are designed to be as appealing and accessible as possible to a wide range of older people. Transport will be available to many events for people who need it.
To find out more about the Older People’s Festival please visit impact-initiatives.org.uk/opf or phone 01273 322940.
The chair of the city’s Health and Wellbeing Board, Councillor Daniel Yates, said: "The Older People’s Festival is a fantastic event which will celebrate the achievements and contributions that older people make to our city.
“It will provide an exciting range of opportunities to meet new people, get out and about, and try something new.
“The activities and events on offer promote healthy lifestyles, give opportunities to combat loneliness and encourage volunteering and sharing skills with different generations.
“There really is something for everyone, and I hope local people from all communities across the city will get involved.”
- During the festival, all over 50s can claim £5.50 tickets at the Duke of York’s Silver Screen (not just Duke of York’s members). For screening information, see the Duke of York’s website: picturehouses.com/cinema/Duke_Of_Yorks
The Festival will be delivered by Impact Initiatives with key partners Trust for Developing Communities, Age UK Brighton and Hove, Hangleton and Knoll Project and The Theatre Royal. Other partners include Active for Life, the Older LGBT Project, The Older People’s Council and Streamline Taxis.