Welcome to the Creative Later Life Network! This is a space for local Age UKs to get support to develop their creative offer locally. You will find creative resources, inspiration and training as well as support to develop your ideas.
Why is creativity and culture important to wellbeing in Later Life?
Research from Age UK shows that creative and cultural participation is the top-most contributor to wellbeing in older age. Of the 30,000 older people involved in the data study, ‘Creativity and Cultural Participation’ came out as the number one feature of good wellbeing. There are many other studies that reflect the fact that creativity has an impact on wellbeing and that this increases as we age. Many local Age UKs already run creative opportunities locally (book groups, theatre trips, dance classes) but there is huge scope to develop more and scale up ideas. The response to Covid-19 lockdowns showed the power of music, film, art, crafts to bring communities together, reduce isolation and reconnect people to the world and this remains important as we try to recover.
How can you get involved locally?
The Creative Later Life network is an informal network of local Age UKs who meet monthly and share creative ideas, inspiration and resources. Led by Age UK Oxfordshire, staff and volunteers from all brand partners are welcome to join the network and receive regular updates, take part in meetings, training and events.
You might also consider joining the Age of Creativity, a free network of more than 1,500 professionals (across age, health, care, culture, community, academic sectors) who believe that creativity and culture supports older people to experience better health, wellbeing and quality of life. The network shares regular news, funding opportunities, resources, research on all aspects of ‘Creative Ageing’, as well as an annual festival celebrating creativity with/ for/ by older people across England.
Want to know more? Both the Creative Later Life and Age of Creativity networks are lead by Farrell Renowden, Head of Cultural Partnerships at Age Oxfordshire, so just get in touch! – farrellrenowden@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk
Age of Creativity Festival
The Age of Creativity Festival is an annual event to celebrate a creative later life across England. The festival is led by Age UK Oxfordshire, with Age UK and hundreds of Age of Creativity network members.
Local Age UKs and other age-friendly organisations are encouraged to take part by listing their creative events and activities on the Festival website. This year’s festival took place throughout May 2021, and you’ll find 100+ creative and age-friendly activities for older people to try – both online and offline on the Festival website, many of these taking place throughout 2021.
Creative Resources
The Age of Creativity Network have put together a whole host of different creative resources for your organisation to download below:
Ageing Better Partnership Creative Learning Reports
Ageing Better is a National Lottery funded programme set up by the Big Lottery Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. It aims to develop creative ways for people aged over 50 to be actively involved in their local communities, helping to combat social isolation and loneliness. The programme is running from 2015-2021 and is delivered by 14 cross sector partnerships across England.
Take a look at some of the creative projects delivered across England by the Partnership:
Events
Keep an eye out here for details of the next Creative Later Life Meeting!
Recent Events
Missed one of our Creative Later Life meetings? Take a look at our recordings below!
10th March 2022 – “Silver Sunday and Arts in Care Homes Day”
The March 2022 Creative Later Life Meeting looked at festivals. Age UK Oxfordshire’s Farrell Renowden started by presenting on the Age of Creativity Festival. This was followed by presentations on Silver Sunday and the International Day of Arts in Care Homes.
11th November 2021 – “Last Event of 2021”
A chance for the Creative Later Life Network to meetup together before the turn of the year! The North Central London CCG presented on “Creative and Meaningful Activities in Care Homes and Other Settings”. This was followed by a talk on “Art by Post” from Emma Nutland, Creative Learning Manager at the Southbank Centre.
9th September 2021- “Playlist for Life”
Whether you are new to Playlist for Life or already part of their network, the team have new free resources to enable more people to enjoy more music. Find out all about Playlist for Life in this recording of our September Creative Later Life Meeting.
Latest Creative Later Life Updates
Click below to view the latest updates on Creative Later Life!
Creative Later Life Network Meeting – Thursday 8 December
The next Creative Later Life Network Meeting will take place on Thursday 8 December from 11:00 – 12:00. This meeting will focus on Lived Experience – how creativity and culture…
“Place Making or Making Place?” – Webinar Recording now Available
Last month we shared details of “Place Making or Making Place?” a webinar to explore the role of older people, creativity and culture in creating ‘vibrant’ places to live. The…
Creative Later Life 2025 – Introductory Meeting on Thursday 9th June
The Age of Creativity are delighted to announce that we have secured funding to begin a new programme of delivery “Creative Later Life 2025”. The goal of Creative Later Life…
“Place Making or Making Place?” – Upcoming event for the Age of Creativity Festival 2022
Taking place on Thursday 19th May from 11:00 – 12:30, “Place Making or Making Place?” is a exploration of the role of older people, creativity and culture in creating ‘vibrant’ places…