Ageism Network

Ageism Network

Our aim is to connect individuals, volunteers, practitioners, policy makers, politicians, civil servants, academics and researchers who are interested in using an intergenerational lens to reduce ageism for people of all ages especially older and younger generations.

The network will meet 3 times each year inviting guests from Scotland and across the world to share their expertise knowledge and experience to guide us in identifying ways on how we can deliver programmes and initiatives which will reduce ageism for younger and older people.

Past meetings

2023 meetings

• Wednesday 23rd August from 2.00pm – 3.30pm – Ageism is everywhere

Join us for an exciting conversation where we will continue our journey to reduce ageism. We know that ageism is common and experienced by old and young in our communities but how do we keep the conversations alive? We need your support to help us look at how intergenerational approaches can address ageism by sharing stories, case studies resources and ideas. Let’s talk about what we can do for our communities which will result in a change and let’s do it together.

• Thursday 21st September from 2.00pm – 4.00pm – Unifying Generations, Edwards Lifesciences

Hear from researchers and a volunteer from the Edwards Lifesciences about their recent survey into perceptions and experience of intergenerational solidarity of 12,850 citizens across 6 European countries (France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain and the UK). Unifying Generations Initiative is their first step in the journey towards changing the perception about the senior population and supporting intergenerational solidarity. The European population is ageing. By 2030, one in five people in the UK will be aged over 651. In the Republic of Ireland, it is anticipated that there will be twice as many people aged 65 in 20512. Today, for the first time, we see four generations share a longer life span together. This demographic change is often referred to as a challenge, giving a misleadingly negative impression of the contribution of over-65s to the society. We believe that this demographic challenge is, in reality, an opportunity.

2022 meetings

Back in 2022 GWT held sessions cascading the conversations around ageism wider across the country. We considered myths and stereotypes —whether at home, at work, in the classroom, or in the policy-making space. The age profile in Scotland is rapidly changing and the older population is increasing faster than in other parts of the UK. The country’s overall population is projected to increase from 5.3 million to 5.7 million by 2039 – with an 85% increase in those aged 75+ (University of Stirling). Despite these profound changes ageism we know is still widespread. DWIGHT C. K. TSE, School of Psychological Sciences and Health joined us to share his research and looked at how ageism can be seen differently through an intergenerational lens.

Lets talk some more about ageism

Agesim thematic network meeting from Generations Working Together on Vimeo.

GWT currently offers a short free training course for members which provides an opportunity for people of all ages to investigate relationships between intergenerational practice and ageism. Click below for further information.