Doctoral Researcher Grace Wood, supervised by Dr Jessica Pykett (Co-Director of the Centre for Urban Wellbeing) and Professor Afroditi Stathi (Community Health Lead for the Centre of Urban Wellbeing), has co-produced a set of recommendations with older adults and community stakeholders to improve urban wellbeing in local areas across Birmingham.
In January, Grace presented her research outcomes to stakeholders at the Selly Oak Neighbourhood Network Scheme steering group meeting and plans to engage further with the city-wide level of Neighbourhood Network Schemes in the coming months.
Today we’re publishing the recommendations in this report.
The research involved participants gathering local data about the quality of the urban environment using the Our Voice approach developed by health equality specialists at the University of Stanford. Participants identified barriers and facilitators of active ageing, including factors such as: personal (health, mobility, ageism), environmental (eg. outdoor spaces and infrastructure), socio-cultural (e.g. lack or presence of community support and activities) and economic and policy (transportation, technology).
These recommendations were discussed and developed at 2 ‘Discover Together’ workshops held in Autumn 2021 with community stakeholders and representatives. The recommendations will be of interest to local community groups, planning teams, businesses and public health practitioners.