Our older people’s led news project based in Greater Manchester, Talking About My Generation, has inspired another group to form in Sunderland, with the help of Sunderland City Council and Sunderland Ageing Well Ambassadors.
Talking About My Generation facilitators and volunteer reporters are helping to set up the group and pass on their valuable skills to see the new team in the North East flourish.
The new We’ar Shining the Light news team, made up of people aged 50 plus, will capture stories that break ageing stereotypes and gather positive stories of later life.
They will also cover reports on local arts, culture, sports and nostalgia – and share them via Sunderland: Our Smart City
Starting in April 2023, the 15-member strong (and growing) team will cover a variety of skills from writing a news story to photography, video creation and podcasting.
Liz St Louis, director of smart cities at Sunderland City Council, said: “With an ageing population comes new challenges to support evolving social, economic and health needs. As a smart city, we are better equipped to leverage the power of technology to both assist and empower our older residents.
“The We’ar Shining The Light news team represents an opportunity for us to connect and communicate with older people, via an engaged team of like-minded individuals, in order to support and inspire residents across Sunderland.
“This collaboration will provide a crucial link to cascade relevant information, boost confidence and promote independence for the older generation. This aligns very well to our city-wide commitment of leaving no one and nowhere behind.”
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