Paper long abstract:

Situated within the context of Manchester, the first UK city to be accepted into the World Health Organisation's network of age-friendly cities, this presentation will address the role of local government in promoting age-friendly approaches at a city and neighbourhoods level.

Drawing specifically on the experience of Manchester's 'Valuing Older People' programme, the paper will consider the types of capacities and expertise needed to design and develop such programmes. In addition the paper will consider the constraints placed on these programmes, particularly in the age of austerity.

Describing the VOP citizen engagement programme, the paper will set out both the benefits and challenges associated with this work, and consider the range of local programmes aimed at promoting the social inclusion of older people.