A groundbreaking set of Age Friendly Leisure Standards has launched across Manchester, aiming to make the city’s leisure centres more inclusive, accessible and welcoming for older residents.

The initiative has been developed through a partnership between GLL, Manchester Active, Age Friendly Manchester, Manchester City Council and the Centre for Ageing Better. The work builds on Manchester’s wider Age Friendly approach and draws on the Centre for Ageing Better’s Age Friendly Business Framework.

The standards recognise the important role leisure centres play in helping older people remain active, connected and engaged in their communities.

The framework was shaped with direct input from older residents through consultation and engagement with the Age Friendly Manchester Assembly and Older People’s Board, ensuring the standards reflect the real experiences and priorities of older people using leisure services.

Commitments to Older People

As part of the new standards, Manchester’s leisure centres have committed to creating environments where older people feel welcomed, supported and confident to take part in activity.

This includes:

• Providing a safe, welcoming and respectful environment
• Ensuring clear information in both digital and printed formats
• Improving accessibility through lighting, signage and seating
• Offering inclusive activities and social opportunities
• Creating spaces that encourage connection and community

These commitments will be reviewed regularly in partnership with the AgeFriendly Manchester Board to ensure centres continue to improve the experience for older visitors.

Beyond Manchester: A Resource for the Sector

While the standards are being introduced across Manchester’s community leisure centres, the ambition is to support change across the wider leisure sector.

The Creating Age Friendly Leisure Standards guide has been designed as a practical resource for leisure operators, local authorities and partners who want to improve how older people experience their facilities. The document includes practical guidance, self-assessment tools and centre audits that organisations can adapt to their own communities.

The full guide is available to download below.

Organisations across the leisure and sport sector are encouraged to explore the document and consider how the approach could be adopted locally.

Partners would also welcome feedback from anyone who uses the framework, helping to build a shared understanding of what works and support more organisations to create welcoming and inclusive leisure spaces for older people.

Supporting Health and Connection

“Leisure plays a vital role in helping older adults stay active, healthy and connected,” said Dr Cordelle Ofori, Director of Public Health. “By embedding these standards, we can support people to live longer, healthier lives and reduce health inequalities across communities.”

Hough End customer and Age Friendly Board Member, Don, added:

“As an older person who had not used leisure centres for some time, I was pleased to see how straightforward the app was to use after a little guidance from the centre staff and how it encouraged me to get more active again.”

Fellow Board Member Elaine reflected on the journey:

“Being involved in developing the Age Friendly Standards with leisure centres has been a truly rewarding and collaborative experience. We’re delighted to see them officially launched to mark the International Day of Older Persons.”


Read the Press Release Here