Our Health & Social Care Working Group meets online every six weeks and is a vital space for older people across Greater Manchester to share their experiences and influence health and care policy and practice.

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We explore a wide range of themes affecting older people’s physical and mental health, access to care, rights, and wellbeing—bringing together lived experience with input from key organisations and policy leads.

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Over the past year, we’ve welcomed guest speakers from across the region and beyond, with recent highlights including:

• Rights for Residents, who presented on the rights of individuals in care homes and health settings, helping us understand how to support dignity and autonomy for people receiving care.

• The LGBT Foundation, who shared their important work on identity and rights within care settings, sparking rich discussion around inclusivity and person-centred care.

• The University of Manchester, who presented on social prescribing and how this can be used to support older people holistically within communities.

• Beth Mitchell from the GM Ageing Hub, who introduced the Live Well and Age-Friendly Model. We anticipate this model will continue to evolve, and our group is keen to contribute to its development in the coming year.

• The Director of Primary Care for the GM Integrated Care Partnership, who shared the Blueprint for Primary Care, allowing us to directly voice concerns around GP access and appointment systems, one of our key priority areas.

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Last year, the group focused on the Rhymes from the Wise poetry project, aiming to gain wider support in promoting the poetry books and accompanying video work across Greater Manchester in creative and meaningful ways. The project has been a powerful reminder of the value of creative expression in health and wellbeing.

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We also hosted Age UK, who presented findings from their research into the current state of health and healthcare for people over 50. The discussion highlighted pressing issues such as access, waiting times, and the need for services that reflect the realities of ageing.​

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Throughout the year, our group has continued to provide direct feedback to decision-makers, ensuring that older people’s voices are central to the design of services and strategies in Greater Manchester. We regularly work alongside organisations such as Age UK, NHS bodies, and the GM Combined Authority, offering insight that helps make systems more inclusive, responsive, and equitable.

 

We are always looking for new members to join us! Whether you want to listen, share your experience or represent your community. Your voice can help shape a better health and care system for everyone as they age.​​