Why Manchester Cares matters

Please note: this post is 88 months old and The Cares Family is no longer operational. This post is shared for information only

We all know that Manchester is one of the greatest cities in the world. It has spearheaded innovation for centuries – as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, the railways and the Suffragette and Co-operative movements and of the music, sport and character that are admired around the world. 

But while our pioneering spirit is part of what makes Manchester unique, the constant change in our city can also leave some people feeling anonymous, isolated or left behind. Amid the globalisation, digitisation, gentrification, urban transience and housing booms that are leading to rapid community change, older people in particular – many of whom have spent a lifetime in their communities from Ancoats to Ardwick – can now feel overwhelmed by the rush and pace of our city.

And yet isolation and loneliness – those feelings of being left out or left behind – are not uniquely later life problems. In fact, while people over the age of 75 are the loneliest age group in the UK, people between 21 and 35 are the second loneliest. At 35, men feel more isolated than at any other time in their lives. One in five young mothers feels lonely “always”. And with loneliness found to be as bad for people’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day and leading to depression, strokes, heart attacks and dementia, it is a serious public health challenge.

At Manchester Cares, we are not fatalistic about this dual challenge. Our model of bringing older and younger people together through Social Clubs, a one-to-one Love Your Neighbour friendship programme, Outreach and Community Fundraising are shown to work in reducing isolation and loneliness, and improving that vital sense of community across social and generational lines. 

As we grow, the interactions you are part of will demonstrate that solidarity across those often segregated groups is possible – and that older and younger people have so much to gain from one another in shared time, laughter, new experiences and friendship.

We believe Manchester Cares will work because it will deploy that timeless solidarity to tackle real and present issues in our rapidly changing city. We know for example that Manchester is the third loneliest local authority in England. It has amongst the highest proportions of older people living in income and health deprivation in the country. It also has tens of thousands of young professionals living and working in the city – who themselves often crave that connection with the rooted world around them in an era of economic and community change.

At the same time, Manchester's health and social care landscapes are changing – with devolution and the creation of the GM Mayoralty bringing prevention through community to the fore. In this area, too, Manchester is leading the way: it is one of the most highly regarded cities in the world for its Age Friendly approach and how it is tackling the challenge of disconnection in our connected age. 

Manchester Cares will add to this dynamic with new opportunities for older and younger Mancunians to spend time together, in the cafes, pubs, businesses and community centres that make our city so special. We'll be beginning activities over the next couple of months – so stay posted on Twitter to learn more about how you can be part of it.