On Wednesday 18 October 2023, the University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute and the Institute for Population Health co-hosted at a hybrid seminar, ‘Towards an age-friendly city’, bringing together policy makers, researchers and practitioners from both the Israel and UK, working to meet this shared challenge.
The seminar built upon the Healthy Cities Design International conference held at the Royal College of Physicians, Liverpool earlier in the week, and provided an opportunity to continue conversations with a delegation of Israeli colleagues, led by Dr. Inon Schenker, Senior IMPACT Consultant on Healthy Ageing, Israel.
The seminar shared research insights and practice developments in this area through a comparative lens focusing on Israel and the UK, two developed economies with rapidly-ageing populations. Discussions provide the opportunities to share:
- Insights into the potential and challenges for the realising the ‘age-friendly city’
- Opportunities for innovation
- Comparative learning and exchange
- Identification of opportunities for future collaboration.
The event opened with provocations from:
Professor Rhiannon Corcoran Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, who reflected on her work as part of the Healthy Ageing in Place Pilots programme with Prosocial Place.
Alex Nurse, Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool, drawing on his research on the 20-minute city, and its intersection with ageing.
Shulamith Gertel, Senior Urban and Regional Planner, Israeli Ministry of Construction and Housing, reflected on the challenges and opportunities for planners in meeting the needs of a diverse population.
Dr Shani Avnieli, Entrepreneur, Tel Aviv, Israel, introduced the potential contribution of ‘big data’ in designing cities fit for the future, not simply in terms of technology, but in re-invigorating community connection.
The provocations encouraged us to reflect on the value of ‘the age-friendly city’ concept, and whether it delivered on intentions of inclusivity and accessibility, or obscured the shared needs required across the life-course. However, the issue of intersectionality was also prominent: if and how a city designed with an ‘age friendly’ lens could reflect the different and nuanced needs of all those who live, work, play and travel through the city?
The ensuing vibrant discussion was Chaired by Professor Catherine Durose, Co-Director of the Heseltine Institute. Colleagues shared reflections from a range of perspectives informed by cutting-edge research and practice, raising issues from the role of public transport, to the purpose of the state, and the need to ensure conversations on the future of the city are anchored in lived experiences.
The event concluded with reflections from Dr. Inon Schenker, who provided both sobering reflections on the connection between the theme of ‘no one left behind’ prominent in conversations on the ‘age friendly city’ and the current situation in Israel, but also inspiration and practical examples of the value of international dialogue and community connectedness.
It is important to acknowledge the broader context in which this seminar took place. Our Israeli colleagues who hoped to be here with us in Liverpool, joining the Healthy Cities Design International conference, were only able to join us online due to the situation in Israel. The seminar provided an opportunity to share our heartfelt hopes for peace to be restored as soon as possible. It is testament to our Israeli colleagues’ resilience and wish to maintain some sense of normalcy that they decided to go ahead with the seminar.
View a recording of the seminar here.
View slides from Professor Rhiannon Corcoran's provocation.
View slides from Alex Nurse's provocation.
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