Manchester Launches Age Friendly Leisure Standards
A groundbreaking set of Age Friendly Leisure Standards has been launched across Manchester, aiming to make the city’s leisure centres more inclusive, accessible, and welcoming for older residents.
The initiative, developed through a unique partnership between GLL (the UK’s largest leisure operator) Manchester Partnership, Manchester Active, Age Friendly Manchester, and Centre for Ageing Better (CfAB), builds on the city’s established Age Friendly strategies in culture and libraries and respond directly to the needs of Manchester’s ageing population and draw on the CfAB, Age Friendly Business Framework.
It marks a significant step in recognising the importance of supporting an ageing population to remain active, connected, and engaged in community life.
Consultation Led by Older Residents.
Between October and December 2024, Manchester Active and GLL undertook a consultation exercise, receiving over 1,200 responses from both leisure centre users and non-users. Older adults were at the heart of the process, with feedback gathered from Age Friendly Assembly and the Board.
Feedback highlighted the need for:
- More daytime and women-only classes
- Improved signage, seating, and lighting
- Accessible information in both digital and printed formats.
- Better customer service and a warm welcome on arrival.
This co-design process has shaped the new Age Friendly Leisure Standards, ensuring they reflect the lived experiences of older people in Manchester.
Commitments to Older People
As part of the new standards, Manchester’s leisure centres have pledged to uphold a series of Age Friendly Commitments, including:
- Providing a safe, welcoming, and respectful environment.
- Creating comfortable social spaces to encourage connection.
- Ensuring accessible design, with well-lit layouts, dementia-friendly signage, and mobility support.
- Offering regular rest points and seating across all centres.
- Promoting services clearly through both printed and digital channels.
- Delivering inclusive activities, including social and competitive opportunities tailored for older adults.
- Reviewing commitments annually with the Age Friendly Manchester Board to ensure continuous improvement.
Beyond Manchester: A Model for Others
While the standards are being introduced across Manchester’s 7 community leisure centres, the ambition extends far wider. The framework has been deliberately designed so that other local and national leisure providers can adopt the approach, adapting it to their own communities.
By sharing a clear process and set of commitments, the partners behind the initiative hope to inspire a sector-wide movement that improves the way older people are welcomed, engaged, and supported in leisure facilities across the UK.
“Leisure plays a vital role in helping older adults stay active, healthy and connected,” said Naomi Davies, Age Friendly Manchester Programme Lead. “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