Age Friendly North Norfolk is a collaborative project between the North Norfolk Health and Wellbeing Partnership, North Norfolk District Council and Age UK Norfolk. They are working with communities in the district to develop ‘Age Friendly Communities’.
Age-friendly communities are places in which older people, communities, policies, services, settings and structures work together in partnership to support and enable us all to age well. The scheme is not about being prescriptive, but rather about developing an ethos of being age friendly and inclusive.
How have we got involved?
We are involved in both of the following schemes:
Age Friendly Business – Using the Age Friendly toolkit, businesses can review their venues and cultures to make small and manageable changes that make them more Age Friendly. On completing these and returning a short update form, the business will receive an Age Friendly window sticker to display in their window, and will be registered on our online database as an Age Friendly Business. Next time you’re walking past, have a look and see if you can spot the sticker which allows residents to see what organisations are committing to being Age Friendly.
Sit You Down North Norfolk – A simple but effective scheme that requires businesses to make available a seat or seats in their venue, where older customers (or others in need) can take a seat and rest, without the obligation to make a purchase.
Seats are registered on the Age Friendly database and a window sticker is provided to identify locations.
Why be an Age-Friendly Business?
For customers, service users, residents, and visitors:
- Increased accessibility
- Confidence and trust
- Feelings of belonging and respect
- Reduced isolation
- Increased activity.
For Businesses and Services:
- The spending power of disabled and older households, sometimes referred to as the UK Purple Pound and Grey Pound, is worth £594 billion a year. Older people and people living with dementia generate a significant economic benefit to their high street.
- Research from the Alzheimer’s Society shows that 83% of people with memory problems have switched their shopping habits to places that are more accessible.
- By advertising yourself as an Age and Dementia Friendly business, you’re letting older people know that you value their custom and are committed to serving them. If it’s easier to use your business, people will come back more often and spend money.
If you wish to speak to our friendly team, please call our Sheringham Office on 01263 823201 or email: sheringham@watsons-property.co.uk
