Ageing Better in Birmingham

Connecting people over 50 in Birmingham to their communities. 

Welcome to Ageing Better in Birmingham's Learning Depository! The programme is closing down and this website functions as an archive and collection of learning from the programme's seven years of delivery. 

Ageing Better in Birmingham began in 2015 to reduce loneliness and social isolation amongst people over 50 and to help them to live fulfilling lives. It was funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and was one of 14 Ageing Better programmes in England working to explore what works in reducing loneliness and isolation through a test and learn approach.  

It was delivered by a partnership of organisations across the city, led by Birmingham Voluntary Service Council (BVSC). It built upon the strengths and skills of individuals and groups to help create sustainable change within communities.

Together, we reached over 10,300 people across the city.

Here you can find out more about what the programme achieved, information about social isolation and loneliness in Birmingham and also resources to support the programme's legacy. 

Have a browse!

Ageing Better in Birmingham 2015 -2022 Infographic

Find out how we worked to get Birmingham's older citizens connected

Useful resources & learning

Report: Creating lasting social connections

Supporting people to make social connections and friendships is an important way to ensure sustainable outcomes from programmes like Ageing Better in Birmingham that seek to reduce loneliness and social isolation. Having a reliable network of friends and social support is an important factor in ensuring we can cope with the stresses and strains of everyday life and can weather crises such as illness or bereavement.

In this briefing we explore the extent to which participation in Ageing Better in Birmingham’s network activities has created lasting social connections and the characteristics of activities that support enhanced social contact outside of the programme. Creating lasting friendships is difficult to do, but local networks and activities can provide the conditions to make friendship more likely.

Read the report