Sunderland Ageing Well Ambassadors

Sunderland is recognised as being age-friendly and forms part of the UK network of Age-friendly Communities, which is made up of over 40 cities, towns, districts, and counties working together to share learning and promote age-friendly practices.

Our age-friendly plan for Sunderland is based on three themes:

Developing age-friendly neighbourhoods supporting Sunderland residents to live healthier lives for longer
Developing age-friendly services and enabling residents to live in their homes for as long as they want to
Promoting age equality and empowering older residents to have their say on the things that matter to them

As part of this, we want to ensure people who are ageing well feel confident in having their say on issues affecting them, in their community.

What the Ambassador role involves

An Ageing Well Ambassador is a voluntary role for an adult, aged 50+, who will take action to help raise awareness and spread the age-friendly message to others, so ageing well people's voices continue to be heard in communities across Sunderland.

Ambassadors will be co-designers with partners of age-friendly ideas, initiatives, and developments across the city.

Ambassadors may promote Age Friendly Sunderland within their workplace, sports team, place of worship, with family and friends or anywhere in their community.

Hear some of our ambassadors talk about what ageing well means to them:

Who we are looking for

Acting as a volunteer, the Ageing Well Ambassador's role is a flexible one, both in terms of time commitment and types of activities undertaken.

Ambassadors could contribute on a regular basis, by promoting and supporting age-friendly initiatives, or may wish to find ways to link their role in with the work they already do.

The role will suit anyone who is willing to connect with others and is passionate about having their say on issues affecting older people.

What an Ageing Well Ambassador could do

Raise awareness and promote age-friendly initiatives within your workplace, community or to the general public
Spread the message, talk to people about it, be an 'age positive' champion
Feedback information or questions to the Ageing Well Board for prompt resolution
Share information on social media relating to Age Friendly Sunderland
Make sure that the voice of people who are ageing well is heard by encouraging people to take part in consultations, campaigns and other opportunities for people to contribute
Encourage change when services are inaccessible or exclude ageing well people, making suggestions for adaptations and signposting for advice and guidance
Promote age-friendly initiatives
Encourage local businesses to sign up to age-friendly initiatives

In this initiative, Ryhope Sea Angling club worked with Newcastle University, Angling Trust and the National Innovation Centre Ageing to produce a short video called The skills in us - Joe and Bobby (opens new window).

Support and benefits for volunteers

All Volunteer Ageing Well Ambassadors will receive the following:

Opportunities to meet the other Ambassadors
Share ideas and make recommendations on issues affecting ageing well people through the Ageing Well Board
Receive support from the Council's Community Resilience Team
Contribute to specific projects as a valued peer
Participate in online training where appropriate
Benefit from a buddy system
Support the design and delivery of an annual event

Contact us and sign up

Please complete the Ageing Well Ambassador registration form to express your interest in the role.