12 March 2026 | Eccles Library

Eccles Library welcomed 13 older residents and partners from Salford City Council, Eccles Town Hall and a parish church in Broughton for a focused Older People’s Network (OPN) workshop. The session also celebrated partners receiving Age Friendly Standards awards, recognising their efforts to create inclusive, welcoming spaces.

The main purpose of the workshop was to review the current Age Friendly Standards assessment form and gather feedback to improve it. Participants worked together to reshape the tool, looking at how it’s structured and what it measures. A key part of the discussion was identifying which elements should be considered essential and which are desirable, to ensure the standards remain both meaningful and achievable.

“It’s good to be asked what we think, it’s our lives, so we should have a say in what matters and what really works,” one participant shared.

What We Heard

Older people brought valuable insight into how the assessment process could be strengthened:

  • Clearer, simpler format – The form should be easy to understand and user-friendly, avoiding jargon and duplication.
  • Stronger focus on lived experience – Standards should reflect what matters most in day-to-day life, not just tick-box compliance.
  • Essential vs desirable criteria – Participants supported clearer distinctions, helping us identify places and spaces that go above and beyond.
  • Consistency and flexibility – The tool should be consistent across settings but flexible enough to reflect different types of venues and services.

Alongside this, participants reinforced key features of age-friendly places, such as accessibility, respectful customer service, clear signage and inclusive environments, ensuring these remain central within the refreshed standards.

Moving Forward

This workshop was an important step in making sure the Age Friendly Standards continue to be relevant, practical, and rooted in real experience. The feedback gathered will directly inform the next version of the assessment tool, helping more organisations to take meaningful action.

Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, ideas and expertise. Your voices are shaping a more age-friendly Salford for all.