From 1 October 2026, the Greater Manchester Older People’s Network and Talking About My Generation are working together in an official partnership, supported by National Lottery Community funding.
Talking About My Generation is the UK’s first older people-led news team. Its volunteer community reporters, all aged 50+, tell the stories of people across Greater Manchester through news, features, interviews, videos and podcasts.
The team reports on the things that matter to people as they grow older, from health and local services to culture, community life, things to do, personal experiences, nostalgia and the issues affecting our neighbourhoods.
At its heart, My Generation is about older people telling their own stories, sharing their own views and challenging stereotypes about ageing. That makes it a natural partner for GMOPN.
Our network brings together hundreds of older people from across Greater Manchester, with a huge range of experiences, knowledge and opinions. By working with My Generation, we can create more opportunities for those voices to reach a wider audience.
GMOPN and the UK's first older people-led news team, working together to put older people's voices at the heart of the story.
What this partnership means for GMOPN members:
-
More opportunities to have your say. When My Generation is covering an issue affecting older people, we will invite GMOPN members to contribute their views. When the news team wants quotes or opinions on a topical issue, we can now put the question out to the whole network, not just the reporting team: giving you more opportunities to share your views and experiences.
-
You'll see more of our network in print and online. We hope to include stories both on our website and through local print publications, which came through loud and clear as something members wanted.
-
A place to share your stories. Got something happening in your community? An issue you think deserves attention? Or simply a story that other people across Greater Manchester would enjoy? You can send us your idea and ask the My Generation team to cover it. If you'd rather write it yourself, we'll invite you along to a meeting where the team of reporters and the editorial team can support you to do it.
-
Opportunities to become a community reporter. GMOPN members interested in journalism, interviewing, photography, podcasting or simply meeting people and telling good stories can find out more about joining the My Generation reporting team.
-
More GMOPN stories reaching a wider audience. Working together gives us more opportunities to share the work, experiences and priorities of older people through the My Generation website, social media and wider media.
-
My Generation stories in your GMOPN newsletter. We will share a selection of My Generation stories each month, making it easier to discover news and features from older people across Greater Manchester.
-
One stronger social media community. GMOPN Facebook updates will move across to the My Generation Facebook page, bringing our communities together and helping our stories reach an audience of 9000+.
Got a story to tell?
We want to hear it. It could be something happening in your neighbourhood, an organisation doing brilliant work, an issue affecting older people, an experience you think others could learn from, or simply something you think deserves more attention. You can suggest a story for the My Generation reporters to explore, or tell us if you would like to write the story yourself.
Interested in becoming a reporter?
You don’t need journalism experience. My Gen’s community reporters bring their own interests, experiences and curiosity to the newsroom. Reporters interview people, write stories, take photographs and contribute to videos and podcasts, with support from the My Generation editorial team. To find out more or register your interest, contact Alex at alex.burgess@macc.org.uk.
Explore Talking About My Generation
Discover stories, opinions, and experiences from people aged 50+ across Greater Manchester. From local issues and community life to health, culture, nostalgia, and things that matter as we grow older, Talking About My Generation puts older people's voices at the heart of the story.