We were very glad to receive an award from the Centre for Ageing Better which enabled our charity to deliver an Age Without Limits Day in June 2025. This was an intergenerational event in which four groups of participants worked through a series of activities to challenge ageism. Firstly, they explored how different generations were perceived and the extent to which they thought such perceptions reflected reality. They explored whether ageism only affected older people. If not, were older people the ones most affected by it?
They concluded that the groups most discriminated against were young people and older people, with middle-aged people being largely ignored in this regard. They identified many instances of discrimination and then went on to consider what could be done about it.
Everyone’s ideas were recorded. Here are just a few of the many suggestions put forward:
- Encourage interaction between age groups
- Be prepared to challenge your perceptions for example of people of different ages, appearance or ability.
- Make older people more visible in the media
- Use role play, including dressing up, to make young people ‘old’ and older people ‘young’!
This last suggestion sounds hilarious and illustrates the role humour can play in countering prejudice and discrimination. We are taking steps to implement as many of the valuable suggestions put forward as we can. The day concluded with a celebratory buffet to Celebrate Ageing.