New campaign wants to change the record on growing older in Oldham

Campaigners want to change the record on what people think of growing older in Oldham.

People aged 50 and over have teamed up for a new campaign – Talking About My Generation - to smash stereotypes and show what it’s really like to age in Oldham and Greater Manchester as a whole.

The campaigners will upskilled to take on a reporter’s role to share stories on people from their generation, to celebrate their lives and value in society, as well as highlighting challenges associated with ageing and how they are being overcome.

Jean Friend, aged 67, and Mike Dodd, aged 78, are helping lead the campaign in Oldham.

Jean said: “Older people are viewed in many ways as a strain on the system and past it but should be seen as a valuable resource – I hope we can change these views with the campaign.

“I would like to see more older people used in advertising campaigns, fashion shoots, sports events and in general getting a higher exposure in the media – to help to change perceptions.”

The Talking About My Generation Campaign will report on key issues for later life: from retirement and bereavement to staying active. The campaign reporters will be using different medias to share the stories including; hosting their own radio show, creating videos, writing news reports, poetry, photography, stage performances, podcasting and much more.

The campaign is part of an Ambition for Ageing project, with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, and is being co-delivered with the support of PR social enterprise Yellow Jigsaw and Age UK partners from Oldham, Wigan, Tameside, Salford, Bury, Rochdale, Bolton and Manchester.

Grace Dyke, from Yellow Jigsaw, said: “We are at risk of sounding like a broken record when we talk about the older generation. It is not all purple rinses, nylon dresses, rocking chairs and mumbles of ‘back in my day’. 

“The Talking About My Generation Campaign is challenging these views and changing the record on growing older – showing what this is really like for people in Oldham and Greater Manchester as a whole by celebrating people’s lives over the age of 50. Please join us to share how people are rocking retirement.”

Yvonne Lee, Chief Executive of Age UK Oldham, says the charity is delighted to be a partner in this new campaign.

She added: “It is fantastic that the campaign is being run by people who themselves know what it is like to be over 50 in Oldham. We hope each story will challenge misconceptions and stereotypes."

For more information on the campaign and to read the campaigner’s stories go to www.yellowjigsaw.co.uk/TalkingAboutMyGeneration or follow @MyGenerationGM 

 

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.