Since 2008 the UK branch, working with colleagues in Lisbon, has developed a strand of work dedicated to furthering understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with demographic ageing. Our work thus far has focused on increasing social connections in later life and across generations. For example, we played a role in establishing the Campaign to End Loneliness, which alongside other activities, has sought to gather evidence and influence those making decisions on the delivery of social provision to ensure that the chronic problem of loneliness in older age is tackled. We have also focused on strengthening connections across generations by testing different approaches through the IntergenerationAll programme and supporting the setting up of a European-wide network of intergenerational practitioners – the EMIL network.

We remain convinced of the need to focus on strengthening social connections in our ageing societies and as such are committed to a second phase of action. Based on our aspiration to be an open, transparent and engaged funder, we are consulting widely about the future shape of the support we provide under this strand. A consultation was launched in April 2013, and comprises a number of elements in addition to roundtable discussions, including an open invitation to provide comments and submit ideas to which we received 40 useful written responses. A previous blog post outlines the consultation and the learning from the first phase of our work under this strand.

In all we held three roundtables with organisations working in the ageing and related fields to exchange ideas and to consider responses. The roundtables considered the themes of transitions in later life, ‘all-age-friendly’ communities and measuring the value of intergenerational practice.

The results of these conversations can be found by clicking on the links below:

– transitions in later life

– ‘all-age-friendly’ communities 

– measuring the value of intergenerational practice

Over the coming weeks and months we shall be digesting the results of this exercise and making initial decisions about the purpose and shape of the new programme. Details of the new programme design will be published on our site as they emerge between now and the end of the year.