Bringing the Pro‑Ageing Movement Together

Last week, Advantages of Age, co-founded by me and Rose Rouse hosted its Awards, bringing together people and organisations championing pro‑ageing—by which we mean the right for older people to remain visible, valued, and able to age with dignity. It was a moving, joy‑filled and colourful celebration, helped along by the many guests who embraced our request to dress in their loudest, most flamboyant outfits.

As you’d expect from an organisation that spans Startup School for Seniors, a lively Facebook community, a Substack full of inspiring stories, and now an Awards ceremony, our category list was delightfully eclectic—from Style Queen & King to Grooviest End‑of‑Life Organisation and Pro‑Ageing Social Club. Watching each winner receive their glass trophy from me and Rose was a privilege. There were tears, cheers, and whoops from the audience. I suspect this is because there simply aren’t enough awards recognising the people and organisations doing vital work for older adults. Some, like Hourglass, are working tirelessly to “end the harm, abuse and exploitation of older people in the UK.”

What struck me most afterwards were the comments Rose and I received about how meaningful it was for attendees to be in the same room with others whose work, values, and philosophy around ageing mirrored their own—people they’d often never encountered before. From academics and corporate leaders to grassroots organisations, our aim was to show that remarkable work is happening across the UK, and that bringing these people together can spark the collaborations that help us all fulfil our missions.

That’s the power of meeting face to face—a power that’s hard to replicate through Zoom. There’s something irreplaceable about standing with someone, reading their body language, feeling the energy of the room. Both Rose and I are firm believers in real‑life connection. We met years ago at an event hosted by former PR guru Lynne Franks, which led to many more conversations (mostly in my hot tub!) and eventually to Advantages of Age itself.

Of course, face‑to‑face events can feel daunting for introverts, so having a plan helps—perhaps a couple of easy ice breakers in your back pocket.

Read on to discover ice breakers and a range of upcoming networking events.