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THE RECORDNews and views on ageing in Greater Manchester

B R E A K I N G N E W STalking about my generation

People aged 50 and over from acrossGreater Manchester are changing therecord on what it means to grow olderin the region. They have teamed up for a newcampaign – Talking About MyGeneration - to become communityreporters and show what it’s really liketo grow older in Greater Manchester.

The reporters will be setting the recordstraight on ageing by reporting on otherpeople from their generation, chartingtheir stories of life over 50, to celebratetheir lives and highlighting challengesassociated with ageing and how they arebeing overcome - to inspire people to livethe life they choose, regardless of age. From hosting their own reggae radioshow to delivering their own photographyclubs, the community reporters will also 

show off their own range of talents andexperiences – as well as learning newskills, from podcasting to mediaproduction. The team will deliver the campaign untilMarch 2020; meeting at monthlynewsrooms and attending local events and groups to cover key issues that theyfeel are important in later life: fromretirement to staying active.  The Talking About My GenerationCampaign is part of an Ambition forAgeing project, which is co-deliveredwith the support of PR social enterpriseYellow Jigsaw and Age UK partners fromacross the funded areas: Wigan, Salford,Tameside, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale,Bolton and Manchester.

 Grace Dyke, from Yellow Jigsaw, said:“We are at risk of sounding like a brokenrecord when we talk about the oldergeneration – with our commonmisconceptions and stereotypes ofageing in Greater Manchester. "It is not all purple rinses, nylon dresses,rocking chairs and mumbles of ‘back inmy day’. “The Talking About My GenerationCampaign is challenging these viewsand changing the record on growingolder – showing what this is really likefor people in Greater Manchester bycelebrating people’s lives over the age of50, sharing stories and the challengesovercome by older generations. "Please join us to share how people arerocking retirement.”

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"It is not all purple rinses, nylondresses, and rocking chairs."

All content produced by the communityreporters can be found through thepartner websites and atwww.yellowjigsaw.co.uk/TalkingAboutMyGeneration Get involved to inspire people to live thelife they choose by sharing our reporters'stories, newsletters and special reports. And if you have an event or story thatcelebrates positive ageing in GreaterManchester get in touch to invite yourlocal reporter along viagrace@yellowjigsaw.co.uk

ON THE RECORD: MEET YOUR COMMUNITY

REPORTERS

COMING UP IN THE NEXTEDITION OF THE THE RECORD

Our community roving reporters,along with our satellite teams atTyldesley writers' and Bolton AsianElders Centre, are our campaignrockstars – who are challenging theageing conversation and stereotypesand setting the record straight bycapturing inspirational stories fromacross Greater Manchester throughdifferent media forms. They will also tell their owninspirational stories of embracingand overcoming the challenges oflater life.

In August our reporters will belaunching their first Special Report -on the topic of keeping active. The team will share a range ofstories through press, blogs,photography, audio and video onhow people across GreaterManchester are keeping active intheir own way. Got a story to share? Contact thenewsroom viagrace@yellowjigsaw.co.uk

LESLEYDOWNING

REPORTER PATCH: BuryAGE: 61

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Our reporter, LesleyDowning, split her career between nursing and as an archive assistant. She is semi-retired now and isdoing casual work as ansupport artist. She recently moved back tothe North West after havinglived abroad and in thesouth of England since 1987. Lesley has a wide variety of interests fromRichard III and the arts towalking, politics, greenissues, music, detectivenovels, travel, film and liveperformances. She has alsorecently started to learnballroom dancing with herhusband. She will be using her manyinterests as part of the Talking About MyGeneration campaign and islooking forward tointerviewing people.

Lesley say: "Generallyolder people are viewedas physically andmentally struggling inone way or another, notparticularly productive insociety, often requiring alot of help. Oldfashioned, out of touch,unreceptive to change,white-haired, frail,woolly, be-slippered andvested."To change attitudes weneed to promote positiveimages and examples of‘older people’ as pro-active, reactive, vital,engaged in society,forward looking andinvested in the future."

Lesley sees this changingthrough the campaign byreaching out to olderpeople to help, supportand encourage them tobe active, mentally,physically andpsychologically, tomaintain a presence inthe here and now, andthe tomorrow. And byreaching out to all otherages to showcase thispositive, proactive viewof ageing.

TONYOPENSHAW

REPORTER PATCH:ManchesterAGE: 64

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Our reporter, TonyOpenshaw, set up Asylum Support Housing Advice (ASHA) in2004 – helping 7,000 people seeking asylum in GreaterManchester. He retired in 2015 andjoined Out In The City, asocial and support groupfor members of the LGBT+communities aged over50, which he now runs. He also volunteers atGeorge House Trust (a HIVagency); and is a trusteefor Manchester City ofSanctuary, anorganisation thatsupports refugees

and people seekingasylum and even hostshis own reggae podcast! Tony enjoys music - bothrecorded and liveconcerts – pub quizzes;and visiting places ofinterest. He joined the TalkingAbout My Generationcampaign to helpbreakdown stereotypesand support others andwill be using hispodcasting and radioskills to do so – as well asplans for a Living Library.

Tony says: "When Iwas a teenager, Ithought 40 was old,and I don't thinkattitudes to ageinghave changedmuch. Thisprogramme will helpto breakdownstereotypes andshow differentaspects of ageing."

CHRISTINEDUFFIN

REPORTER PATCH:ManchesterAGE: 59

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Our reporter, ChristineDuffin, used 'meet up'when she retired to find out about socialopportunities and networksand is now part of walkinggroup that goes as far andwide as Granada, and alsovolunteers at The RoyalExchange Theatre,Stretford Public Hall, AgeUK Manchester and HOME. She also volunteers atvarious festival events suchas ManchesterInternational Festival 2019and Manchester LiteratureFestival. Christine enjoys travelling,walking, the theatre, thecinema and anyperformance arts. She is a greatcommunicator and enjoyspending time with people,hearing their stories and

experiences – skills shewill use as part of theTalking About MyGeneration campaign,where she wants to see apositive change in viewstowards the over 50's, andan acknowledgement oftheir ability to continue tocontribute to society andpositive steps taken toharness and make use ofwhat each individual stillhas to offer.

Christine says:"Unfortunately myexperience has beenthat some people willoverlook the positivesof the over 50's agegroup, like wisdom,experience andknowledge.

"I am keen to sharemy own experiencesince retirement indiscovering a wholenew world ofopportunities viavolunteering,challenge views thatretirement andgetting older meanswe have nothingfurther to contributeand to show thatthere is plenty ofopportunity to meetlots of differentpeople, gain newskills, and use andshare existing skills -and have fun!"

JEANFRIENDREPORTER PATCH:OldhamAGE: 67

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Our reporter, Jean Friend, is aphotographer, and enjoys the theatre,cycling, art, politics and campaigns onLGBT issues. She wants to use her photography skillsin the Talking About My Generationcampaign as well as learn new skills andbuild confidence. Jean, who is a retired science teacher,along with being a volunteer for Age UKOldham for 15 years and founderof the Owt and Nowtphotography enterprise. She wants tohighlight issues faced by minoritycommunities and thinks older people areviewed in many ways as a “strain on thesystem, past it, stuck in the past” butshould be seen as a valuable resource.

Jean says: “I would like to seemore older people used inadvertising campaigns, fashionshoots, sports events and ingeneral getting a higherexposure in the media – to helpto change perceptions alongwith intergenerational events.”

BOBALSTONREPORTER PATCH:TamesideAGE: 65

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Our reporter, Bob Alston, is a proud Mancunian, redsfan, and retired engineer and teacher. Bob volunteers at Age UK Tameside and the GraftonCentre, Hyde and has an interest in anything withan engine, photography and his family. He wants to use his photography skills in theTalking About My Generation campaign, as well asdesign and newsletter editing, and learn new skillsfrom podcasting to interviewing. Bob wants to make sure that older people get toknow what is available in their community – forthem to stay healthy and active – as well aschanging perceptions of ageing.

Bob says: "People over 50today class themselves asyoung, unlike my father'sgeneration whoconsidered over 50 as old.I still believe that I have agreat deal to offer."

CHRISVICKERS

REPORTER PATCH:SalfordAGE: 67

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Our reporter, Chris Vickers, found retirementdifficult at first – but was encouraged by afriend to try Walking Football and now playsfour times a week! He is also part of a writers group at CritchleyCafé with his wife. Chris joined the Talking About My Generationteam as a new learning opportunity and to meetnew people. He is passionate about investigating whatopportunities are available now for older peoplein the community and wants to show thatretirement should be seen as an opportunity todo more and try new things. Chris thinks retirement should be seen as beinga positive thing and that people should not beexcluded on age.

Chris says: "Hopefullyretirement can these daysbe viewed as a newbeginning rather than anending and  'silver surfers'can be much more activeand productive; enjoyingarts and crafts and/orsporting activities andmuch more – whatevertheir passion is."

PAULSHERLOCK

REPORTER PATCH:SalfordAGE: 72

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Our reporter, Paul Sherlock, is a volunteer for Age UKSalford – mainly at theCritchley Cafe Community Hub in Swinton. He enjoys local history,genealogy and photography. He joined the Talking AboutMy Generation campaign touse his skills in photography tocapture people and eventsthat will break stereotypes onageing. Paul also wants to learn newinterview skills and writearticles, and is particularlykeen on recording our heritagefor future generations as wellas inspiring the present one. He wants to improveperceptions of growing olderby shifting the media portrayalof his generation, and inspirehis peers to stay active in thecommunity by showing themwhat opportunities andfacilities exist.

Paul says: "I don't feel young peopleregard me as old to the extent that Iregarded people my age when I wasyoung but I accept that there arestereotypes that need dispelling. "I like to communicate with myneighbours as equals rather than mebeing someone from a former (older,wiser and morally superior) era and Ifind that they seem to respect that. "I hope that young people don't see ourrecollections from the past as justboring ramblings but as part of a livinghistory from which they can learn."

CAROLEOGDEN

REPORTER PATCH:BoltonAGE: 58

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Our reporter, Carole Ogden, is originally from East Sussex, but has lived in Bolton nearly 30 years. Carole took voluntaryredundancy at 55 for healthreasons and to care for hermum, who had dementia. She is a poet and chair of aBig Local project in hercommunity - Tonge with theHaulgh - and did a degree,PGCE, masters and Level 5Diploma, all in her 50s! Carole, who also volunteersat Haulgh Hub and the SeaCadets, has won a BoltonUniversity inaugural awardfor writing, teaches English,organises the community'sGreat Get Together everyyear, enjoys crochet andattends a sewing class.  Carole's passion for writinghas led to recognition fromher peers and the public.She has a poem displayed inBolton Central Library and isa BBC Radio Poem forManchester finalist andshort story winner.

Her skills in poetry and prose will be well used for theTalking About My Generationcampaign, and she wants topromote what is going on for over 50s andbreak down barriers, as wellas learn new things and share her talents.

Carole says: "Mypersonal andprofessional lives bothbegan again in my40/50s. I would likepeople to see that youcan reinvent yourselflater in life, learningnever stops. I reallyvalue the new friends Ihave made throughcommunity engagement,who enrich my life.

"I would like people tosee over 50s as beinginteresting andrelevant and in anideal world, I wouldlike there not to beany mention of age,race, gender at all. Ifsomething isinteresting oramusing, the age ofthe person involved isirrelevant. It would begood to treat us all asthe same, with nostereotypical focus."

PAULINESMITH

REPORTER PATCH:ManchesterAGE: 71

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Our reporter, PaulineSmith, moved backto the UK in late2007 at age 59, after30 years living andworking in Belgium,Germany and theNetherlands with noactive personalnetwork and as atrans woman. Now she has anetwork of friendsand is active in theLGBT Foundation'sButterflies supportgroup for transpeople, a member ofOut in the City, onthe advisory boardfor the Pride inAgeing campaignand has been filmedby a student abouther life, was recentlyon Radio Manchesterto help launch thePride in Ageingprogramme and hasbeen part of aportrait photographysession beingsupported by Gettythat will show thoseover 60 can have apositive outlook. Pauline was alsoinvolved as avolunteer in thestart-up of

the Trans MCR programme atthe LGBT Foundation from itsfirst monthly meeting in April2016 through to October 2017and has been a befriendersince May 2016 at the LGBTFoundation. Pauline has many interestsfrom football, women's fashion,current affairs, reading fictionand history and cooking, aswell as travelling. She alsospeaks three other languages -Dutch, French and German. She is passionate aboutsupporting the transgendercommunity and enjoys being amember of the social group,Out in the City.Her many skills - includingpreparing presentations, report writing, andinterviewing - will support theTalking About My GenerationCampaign, in which she wants 

to enable older people toenjoy being older and to helpthose who are vulnerableovercome loneliness anddepression and to show thatlife can be fun.

Pauline says: "Peoplesee older peoplewrinkly and "past it"...or'invisible' is the wordthat springs to mind. "I want to show thereare many new things toget involved in, inManchester, and thatonce you try new things– other doors open."

MIKE DODD

REPORTER PATCH:OldhamAGE: 78

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Our reporter, Mike Dodd, is passionate about people staying connected in their local communities. He is a governor at aprimary school, committeemember of a social group,member of the PatientParticipation Group withthe CCG to review theirprocesses and materials,has been a parishcouncillor and volunteerswith Age UK Oldham - andis part of a group that has aremit to organiseexpansion into Oldham. He has worked with themedia before, writingarticles and identifyingnews opportunities for alocal newspaper, and is a trained communityreporter for OldhamChronicle – skills he will be

bringing to the TalkingAbout My Generationcampaign. Mike, who has ninegrandchildren andbrought up four children,wants to changeperceptions of growingolder, by showing peoplehow they can helpthemselves and others tolive a more interestingand energetic lifestyle toreduce isolation andbuild interactions.

Mike says: "Older peopleare seen by the young asa nuisance, a necessaryimposition, in somecases as in newspaperarticles, a drag on thecosts of health care andold age pension – withtoo many freebies likebus passes, TV license,blue badges and the like. "I want to show youngergenerations that this isnot the case – and oldergenerations have abenefit to society as awhole."

RIKWHITAKER

REPORTER PATCH:Wigan and LeighAGE: 68

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Reporter Rik Whittaker, fromLowton, has a keen interest inmusic, photography, dance,travel, and education. After retiring from CivicService, Rik attended TheUniversity of Salford tocomplete a Computer Science degree and Masters in Technology and Education.  He now promotes STEMcareers going into schoolswith the Greater ManchesterSTEM Centre, runs aphotography group and is anavid motorcycle rider – andhas added playing the flute tohis musical skills.

He joined the TalkingAbout My Generationcampaign to show that"We're not growing old, we just have moreexperience of things." He would like torecognition that olderpeople can add great valueto the lives of others, andhopes to do this throughthe campaign with improved communicationson the reality of the lives of older people,particularly with strong visuals andcompassionate images.

As one of the communityreporters, he will bebuilding on and using hisphotography skills,capturing people atevents, who are a part ofthe campaign.

Rik says: "It's agreat time to startsomething new!"

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WWW.YELLOWJIGSAW.CO.UK/TALKINGABOUTMYGENERATION

Do you have a story for our campaign of a personover the age of 50?

Or know someone who would like to join our campaign

rockstars to become a community reporter?

get in touch:grace@yellowjigsaw.couk

@MyGenerationGM 

/Talking About My Generation