Legacy

Our vision for the future is simple, but there is no silver bullet, it is complex, subjective, and ensuring authentic co-design is a slow process. In many ways, it has taken us two years to kick-start this work, which is why the legacy is so important- and we urge everyone to reflect and respond to the areas highlighted in each section.  As a summary, here is what legacy (the next chapter!) looks like to us:

  1. Creative Ageing Network– members of the network have unanimously voted to spend 12 months working with CADA, Creative Ageing Development Agency, to develop a ‘recipe for change’ manifesto for the sector, to inspire under-represented/ under-served older people to get creative. This will be shared nationally in 2025.
  1. Storytelling– the portfolio of stories provides a platform for voice and visibility, and we encourage you to read and reflect on ‘what resonates with you? The CAN have already begun to develop a short series of fairy tales on the themes of ‘equity’, ‘agency’, and ‘access’ which will be shared nationally in the coming months.
  1. Storyboard– the themes that emerged from the storytelling project have been developed into a visual storyboard for everyone to use as a useful prompt online or in person, as part of your delivery.  The CAN will use these as the starting point for their new manifesto.
  1. Evaluation– Supersum is continuing to develop the new co-created evaluation framework with Age UK Oxfordshire, as part of a Heritage project, funded by Historic England. The outcomes of this project, including developments in the evaluation framework, will be shared in the Winter.
  1. Place-Making– The ideas from this project have been shared with partners and CADA; Creative Ageing Development & Agency, have developed a specific strand of work that responds to some of these key questions. Two new ‘Living Labs’ have been developed in different parts of the country to test people, power, place in terms of both Creativity and Ageing.

If any of the strands of Creative Later Life are of particular interest, then please read the extended ‘legacy’ section (drop down menu) for each of the five topics. If you would like to connect with any of the partners involved in the work emerging in the next chapter, then please contact hello@cadaengland.org

‘Why am I still making the case to the age sector about the value of creativity?’ This is a straight-talking blog by Farrell Renowden, which reflects on the reality of the challenges in 2023.