The Age-Friendly City (TAFCITY) UK Needs Analysis

WP2 – UK Needs Analysis Overview of the city - BATH Target groups – private and public sector Interest in the project Understanding of TAFCITY project

UK – nearest Age-Friendly City is Bournemouth (75 km) –Other UK official cities– Edinburgh and Manchester –Age UK, national charity, has projects in Age Friendly Neighbourhoods –Age UK – policy group – interested in TAFCITY

BATH – population 84,000; wider administrative area 179,000 –Over 30% over 65 years of age –Working population declining as a percentage of the total: 14% retired, low unemployment at 5%, 72% economically active –Housing expensive – about 30% higher than national average; low level of social (affordable) housing and to purchase requires a salary 10 times national average

BATH – Local Economic Assessment in 2010 shows B&NES area incomes are low, employment high and health deprivation low –3.8 million day visitors per annum and 1 million staying tourists –Visitor numbers and reliance on tourism menas that many organisation cater for tourists rather than residents, for example, shop rentals 25% more than national average makes prices higher; also range of goods sold cater fro tourists

Target groups Public sector - Good coverage from local authority; not as many as required but adequate numbers Private sector –Many questionnaires completed and a lot of information freely give; people are interested in the project

Interest No-one other than the national charity and their local office had heard of WHO and The Age-Friendly City Local charities, volunteer organisations and others very interested in TAFCITY; many asked for the Newsletter when available UK Partner invited to Bath City Conference to tell people about the project (good for dissemination) Training needs identified were short and sharp; brochures useful; workshops and experience Concern that public funding cuts will affect services already available or planned

Partner understanding of Age-Friendly and Active Ageing Good range of services are available in Bath and the surrounding area Many organisations working in this field Volunteers and community groups very interested in helping our project Policies do exist that affect the elderly Voice of the ‘elderly’ needs to be heard more