AGE UK Bradford District is launching a new campaign to raise both money and awareness for the charity, so that it can continue to connect older people to the information, support and activities that they need.

Through the 'Connections 21' campaign, Age UK Bradford District will aim to help older people build the connections that are important to them.

This includes making sure they have choice and control over their lives with access to information, help with building digital awareness, providing advice to meet their specific needs and promoting independence by enabling them to get involved with activities and groups in their communities. 

Over the last two years the charity has asked older people across the district what makes a "good life", and were told that it was family and friends, health, finance, home and community.

The campaign is also about raising awareness of how people, regardless of their age or background, can help by using their skills, interests and abilities to make sure their communities are great places to grow old.

This could be through volunteering, being community buddies or neighbourhood champions.

The charity’s goal is to build community connections that create and reinforce positive relationships and lifestyles, creating age-friendly communities across the Bradford district.

Connections 21 will run from 5 July to 3 September and will include the official openings of six new community hubs, in Allerton, Idle, Keighley, Queensbury, Shipley and Wrose.

Mark Rounding, Age UK Bradford District Chief Executive, said: “We hope that our community hubs across the Bradford district will become vibrant locations for people to make the connections they need.

"From these hubs, by listening, talking, understanding and acting together with older people, we aim to begin to build the age-friendly communities people want, where everyone’s skills and abilities are valued.

"It’s not really about the hubs or premises though, it’s about the communities they serve and enabling the people across those communities to reconnect and build the day-to-day activities, routines and interests they want, especially after the past challenging year.”

On Saturday 31 July, staff, volunteers and supporters will take part in the 'Walk of Ages', a 24-mile fundraising walk that visits each of the community hubs on the route.

There is also a seven-mile version and anyone is welcome to join in and, hopefully, help raise funds for the charity.

People who are interested should call 01274 391190, or visit the charity's website for more details.

To support Age UK Bradford District’s work across the local area people can also go to justgiving.com/campaign/connections21, or donate via text message, by texting CONNECT to 70450 to donate £3, or texting CONNECT to 70460 to donate £5. Texts cost the donation amount plus one standard rate message.

More information on the campaign can be found on the charity's website, and the official launches of the community hubs are on the following dates:

Shipley – 27 July

Idle – 3 August

Allerton – 10 August

Wrose – 12 August

Queensbury – 24 August

Keighley – 2 September