Regions For All Ages Programme Presentation to Regions for Economic Change Conference – 25/26 January 2006 Workshop 3C- Working together through inter-regional co-operation Produced as part of a joint programme between Age Concern and the English Regions Network © Ian Briton – FreeFoto.com

2 Background to the programme Analysis and purpose Work to date Structures, resources and relationships Future work Regions For All Ages – The Conference Presentation outline

3 Main Heading Post 1997 devolution and regionalisation initiative –Creation of regional bodies in England –Evolution of regional, sub-regional, local co-ordination Debate of the Age programmes –Regional impacts of ageing –Cross-sector partnership activities –Research studies in NW and NE working with Regional Agencies Internal recommendation within ACE to develop programme targeting regional tier Development of partnership between ACE and ERN – emerging co-ordination structure for 8 Assemblies Regions For All Ages – The Conference Background

4 Main Heading General Trends –Enhanced longevity –Lower fertility Regionally specific issues –Relative prosperity and poverty –General migration and internal population movements –Demography of minorities –Sub-regional effects Regional demographies different and divergent Regions require detailed assessment and response Regions For All Ages – The Conference Analysis: Regions and Ageing - differential impact on regions

5 Regions For All Ages – The Conference Programme purpose To highlight ageing to regional organisations and those influencing regional policy To highlight regions to age sector organisations and stimulate and support engagement To provide an evidence base to support regional level actions To ensure that ageing features in European and national regional policy programmes To stimulate strategic responses by regional organisations and influence regional strategies To build relationships between organisations from all sectors operating at regional level on the ageing agenda

6 Main Heading Regions For All Ages – The Conference Work to date Creation of high level Programme Advisory Group –Policy makers –Regional networks –Academics –NGOs Identification of key regional policy themes –Regional demography –Regional economies –Regional governance and involvement –Health –Equality & diversity –Urban policy –Rural policy Commissioning of key theme papers Dissemination at National Conference – March 2003 Creation of networks of lead Officers from each region –Regional Assemblies, Government Offices –Lead RDA identified via lobbying - LDA Support to develop work of Partners – eg RSA

7 Main Heading Levels –Europe –UK –Regional –Sub-regional and local Issues –Economic development –Social regeneration –Regional governance –Housing and infrastructure –Promoting health –Equality and diversity Settings –Rural –Urban Regions For All Ages – The Conference Programme framework

8 Main Heading Programme Advisory Group: oversight of programme, intellectual leadership, advice to management team, leadership in theme areas National networks: identified lead officer in each region, bring together for discussion and mobilisation, pressure upwards and across –Government Offices –Regional Assemblies –Age Concern regions Regional Co-ordinating bodies: development of Regional Fora on Ageing agreed as target for programme to bring together players at regional level –5050vision – North West –Future Years – Yorkshire –East Midlands tomorrow – East Midlands –Years Ahead – North East –East of England Forum on Ageing – Eastern –Also – co-ordination in London and West Midlands Sub-groups: working on specific pieces of work Regions For All Ages – The Conference Structures

9 Main Heading Event reports and commissioned papers Website Development of brand – to provide presence for programme and enable partner events to identify Guide to regional evidence and proposed research programme Conference on regional demographic projections – University of Sheffield and Regional Observatories Age proofing toolkit (joint commission – ACE, ERN, RDAs Evidence development European programme –Co-operation with AGE –European Advisory Group – UK and EU representation –Policy work with Commission – Cohesion policy –Comparative research – European regions –Conference with Committee of Regions –Toolkit Regions For All Ages – The Conference Supporting delivery - products

10 Main Heading Core funding – ERN and ACE - PAG - Networks - Key products - Conference -Leverage -Staff - ACE -Regional Development team -Consultancy support -Theme funding - external brought by sponsors - levered by core funding Regions For All Ages – The Conference Resources

11 Main Heading Good awareness of issue at regional level Ageing mainstreamed into regional strategies –Economic –Social –Spatial Regional dimension mainstreamed into national policy and structures –Government –NGO Functioning co-ordination structures –National between regions –Regional within regions Research products and toolkits European activities Regions For All Ages – The Conference Outcomes – but with more to do!

12 Main Heading supporting effective co-ordination at regional level facilitating information exchange and co- operation at national level information and opportunities for discussion of national and European agenda evidence development – information and practice specific themes – economy, health, equality Project development More at: Regions For All Ages – The Conference Future actions