Residents are being invited to come together and celebrate ageing well at a series of Age Friendly Festivals taking place across Westmorland and Furness this October withthe first of the six Age Friendly Festivals taking place in Penrith on Thursday 1st October, .
The free events are being
held to mark the International Day of Older Persons and will showcase the
wide range of activities, services and support available to help people stay
active, connected and independent.
Taking place in Penrith,
Barrow and Kendal, the festivals are aimed primarily at older adults,
although everyone is welcome to attend.
Visitors will have the
opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and taster sessions,
enjoy live music and dance performances, meet local community groups and
organisations, and access advice and information to support their health and
wellbeing.
Local partners will host
information stalls highlighting activities, services and support available in
communities across Eden, Furness and South Lakeland. Each event has a
slightly different programme, including local entertainment. The Penrith Festival
will include a mobile unit offering an immersive dementia experience, whilst
the Barrow and Kendal Festivals will have health care professionals available
to administer winter vaccinations to eligible people.
All of the festivals will
offer practical advice and demonstrations of equipment that can help people
live independently, alongside an equipment take-back service for items that
are no longer needed. The Better Homes Team will also be attending to provide
advice and guidance on Disabled Facilities Grants and Handyperson
service.
As part of the
celebrations, St Mary's Hospice will be hosting a Dementia Friendly Disco at
Barrow Cricket Club, the popular Silver Sunday event returns to Barrow Town
Hall, and there is a Silver Saturday event at Ulverston's Coronation Hall
later in the month.
Councillor Patricia Bell,
Member for Adult Care said:
"The Age Friendly
Festivals are a wonderful opportunity for people to come together, meet new
friends, discover local activities and find out about the support available
in their communities.
We know that staying
active, connected and involved can have a hugely positive impact on health
and wellbeing. These events celebrate the valuable contribution older people
make to our communities while showcasing the many opportunities available to
help people live well and age well.
I would encourage everyone
to come along, enjoy the activities and entertainment, and see what's on
offer in their area."
The festivals are being
delivered through partnership working between local organisations committed
to supporting older people to remain active and independent within their
communities.
Anyone interested in
attending can simply come along on the day to discover what's happening in
their area, meet new people and find out more about the activities, services
and support available.
Event dates
Eden Age Friendly Festival Penrith Leisure Centre Thursday 1 October, 10am to 2pm
Furness Age Friendly
Festival Barrow Leisure Centre Friday 2 October, 10am to 3pm
St Mary's Hospice Dementia
Friendly Disco Barrow Cricket Club Wednesday 30th September, 1pm – 4pm Call 01229 444407 to
book
South Lakes Age Friendly
Festival Kendal Leisure Centre Sunday 4 October, 11am to 2.30pm
Silver Sunday Barrow Town Hall Sunday 4 October, 11am to 3pm
Silver Saturday Coronation Hall Ulverston Saturday 17 October 2026 2pm to 4pm
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