Bournemouth, Health & Lifestyle | Posted on April 25th, 2025 | return to news
Age friendly scheme launched in Bournemouth town centre
With 40 per cent of the population in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole aged over 50, Bournemouth Town Centre BID has launched this new scheme.
Bournemouth town centre is to become more welcoming for older people.
Spearheaded by Bournemouth Town Centre BID, in partnership with BCP Council and the Centre for Ageing Better, there will be a range of initiatives, including a business charter, staff training, a seating scheme, and grant funding.
At the launch event, held on Wednesday 23 April at Patch, the co-working space inside Bobby’s, attendees from local businesses heard that 41 per cent of the population in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) is aged 50 plus and the number of over 50s will rise by 10 per cent by 2031.
Paul Kinvig, chief operating officer of Bournemouth Town Centre BID, said: “This initiative is about recognising the needs of a growing part of our community and responding in practical ways. We want the town centre to work well for everyone, including older residents and visitors.”
Among the announcements made at the event was the launch of a new microgrant scheme. Funded by the Centre for Ageing Better, the scheme enables levy-paying businesses within the Bournemouth Town Centre BID area to apply for grants between £150 and £500 to fund changes that benefit older customers – such as improving access, updating signage and communication materials, or running intergenerational events.
Dr Carole Easton, chief executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, said: “Older consumers are of growing importance to businesses and the economy, with over 50s responsible for half of all household spending, yet negative experiences due to age are still too common. Local businesses and town centres are vital to our communities and have a huge role to play in making us feel welcome and included.
“We welcome Bournemouth Town Centre’s initiative to become age-friendly and are delighted to be working with them to help more places across the country learn from their example.”
The microgrant application window will close on Friday 23 May. Up to 20 businesses will be awarded funding, which will be distributed in July and must be spent by the end of October 2025.
But even before this microgrant scheme takes effect, visitors to Bournemouth Town Centre will notice some immediate changes with the launch of the Age Friendly Bournemouth ‘Take A Seat’ Campaign.
Bournemouth Town Centre BID helped to provide three Chesterfield-style chairs, being placed in participating businesses in the coming weeks to create welcoming resting spots for older visitors, the first three being Bobby’s Beauty, Naked Coffee, Lansdowne, and Howden Insurance in The Triangle, with further locations to follow.
This comes alongside the Age Friendly Bournemouth Charter, which invites businesses to commit to supporting their older customers through an awareness of their needs and by making simple accommodations. Bournemouth Town Centre BID is also offering free age-friendly customer service training for BID levy payers, providing practical advice for serving older people more confidently and effectively.
Both are already being adopted by town centre businesses, added Kinvig: “Becoming age-friendly is about accessibility and inclusivity – but more than that, it’s about creating a warm welcome and actively considering the comfort and wellbeing of older customers – creating spaces where everyone feels they belong.
“We’re inviting local businesses to be part of this journey, and the enthusiasm we’ve already seen is hugely encouraging.”
Bournemouth Town Centre BID board member Rachel Woodward Carrick and author of ‘Happy Silver People’, who has spearheaded the ‘Take A Seat’ initiative, said:
“Older customers are vital and valuable, but many face barriers in visiting our town centre – from limited seating to inaccessible shop fronts. This initiative is about removing those barriers and building a town centre that works better for everyone.”
The programme has also emerged from BCP Council’s commitment to Age Friendly Bournemouth, Christchurch, Poole – part of the Centre for Ageing Better’s UK Network of Age Friendly Communities. The council is playing an active role ensuring the area meets the real needs of older residents and visitors.
Cllr Sandra Moore, portfolio holder for Communities and Partnerships at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council, said: “This project is a fantastic example of collaborative working in action – working together to improve the accessibility of Bournemouth town centre.
“Through this work, and the council’s wider Age Friendly Community projects, we’ve been able to create spaces where older residents and visitors can feel more confident, comfortable and included.
“It is great to be at this event and seeing such an enthusiastic response from businesses, and I am looking forward to seeing this work progress over the coming months and years.”
Businesses interested in applying for a microgrant can find information and the application form on the Bournemouth Town Centre BID website at https://towncentrebid.co.uk/ or email localities@ageing-better.org.uk.
Please share post:
LATEST NEWS:
CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2025
Subscribe to the online magazine news letter
