IMPROVING transport facilities and creating opportunities to socialise through horticulture were just some of the inspiring ideas from people in later life that emerged from a series of events across Devon designed to transform the experience of ageing.

At one of the events, more than 100 people in later life and their friends and families joined social entrepreneurs and health and social care leaders in Beaford, near Winkleigh, as part of the pioneering National Lottery funded initiative.

They were asked to provide their life experiences and insights to stimulate new ideas for innovative products and services which will support a healthy and active later life.

Supported by £3.65 million from the Big Lottery Fund, the Transform Ageing programme is taking a community and design-led approach to enhancing people’s experience of ageing.

In Devon, latest figures show an average life expectancy of 82.55 with more than 44 per cent of the population aged between 50-90, both of which are above the national average.

Carol McCormack is chairman of Devon Senior Voice, a local organisation that supports people in later life on a wide range of the issues including housing, healthcare and loneliness.

Carol said: “If Transform Ageing can help connecting people in later life then that will be incredibly valuable here in Devon.”

Elaine Cook is the chief cxecutive of the local charity Devon Communities Together, a partner organisation for the Transform Ageing Initiative in Devon.

Elaine said: “The vision for Transform Ageing is that a greater number of older people will have more choice and support to live independently.”

She hopes that new products will help resolve the ageing issues of dexterity, hearing and mobility.

Transform Ageing is being delivered through a partnership led by Design Council, a leading authority on the use of strategic design to tackle major societal challenges, together with UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, the South West Academic Health Science Network, and the Centre for Ageing Better. It is also being supported locally on the ground by, Devon Communities Together.

The ideas and insights captured at the events will now be used to redefine the challenges and opportunities facing ageing communities and ultimately shape innovation briefs for social entrepreneurs to respond to with product and service solutions.

Packages of financial and non-financial support will be provided to each successful entrepreneur to enable the development and scaling up of ideas. The funding will also create a legacy in the form of a National Knowledge and Learning Network for communities to draw upon and apply the learnings and experience gained in the South West.

If you would like to find out more about the Transform Ageing programme please visit the Design Council website at: www.designcouncil.org.uk/transform-ageing .

Alan Quick