Have your say on how ‘age friendly’ Melksham is

THERE is still time to take part in Age Friendly Melksham’s survey and have your say about how age friendly you think the Melksham community is as a place to live, now and into later life.   

The organisation’s ‘baseline survey’ is open for just two more weeks. They say, “Thank you to all those who have already given us their views. You can complete the survey online and there are copies around the town in booklet form if you are not online. The survey closes on Thursday 30th September, so you still have time!”

Age Friendly co-ordinator, Phillipa Huxtable, adds, “We want to make sure as many views as possible are heard in developing a three-year plan to make Melksham a place where active healthy ageing can help us to live longer and healthier lives, benefitting everyone.  This survey will help us to do that.  The survey is a great opportunity for people to have their say about how we can work together to make Melksham an age friendly place to live now, and as we grow older.”

“Taking part will give people an opportunity to share thoughts and experiences that can be used to shape the future delivery of our town’s age friendly activities.”

The population in the UK is rapidly ageing and by 2040, people aged 50 and over are expected to make up 40% of the population. Age UK reports that by 2030, one in five people in the UK (21.8%) will be aged 65 or over, 6.8% will be aged 75+ and 3.2% will be aged 85+ (ONS, 2017b).   

This will have a significant impact on society and local communities.  In response to a worldwide ageing population, the World Health Organisation (WHO) launched its strategy to develop age friendly communities. Melksham and its surrounding villages are part of the UK network of age friendly communities.

Phillipa is keen for people of all ages to complete the survey and says, “Healthy ageing is a lifelong process; staying active and maintaining the highest possible level of function in our adult lives helps us to maintain independence and avoid disability in later life.  It’s important we start thinking about how we can help ourselves early on and try to make conscious efforts to maintain our health and social wellbeing.   

“Age Friendly is about encouraging people to change the way we think, feel and act towards age and ageing and acknowledge the contribution of people in later life, who continue to work and pay taxes,  give their time to volunteering, care for family members and bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and economic benefits to our community.

“With your support, we can continue our age friendly journey in Melksham, so we all have the opportunity to live a healthy life in an age friendly community.”

Age Friendly Melksham is leading the age friendly development project for Melksham and needs people of all backgrounds to actively participate, regardless of age, and to be part of shaping the community they live in.

Complete the survey here: https://agefriendlymelksham.org.uk/survey/ or pick up a copy from the library, post office, Town Hall or wherever you see one!

Completed hard copy surveys can be returned to:

• Age Friendly Melksham, The Canberra Centre, 56a Spa Road, Melksham SN12 7NY

• Melksham Town Council, The Town Hall, Market Place, Melksham SN12 6ES

• Melksham Without Parish Council, Sports Pavilion, Westinghouse Way, Bowerhill, Melksham SN12 6TL

To find out more about the survey, please contact Phillipa Huxtable at Age Friendly Melksham on 01225 667971 or by emailing phillipa@afmelksham. org.uk