The Friendly Communities team works alongside our partners and local older people to make Leeds an Age Friendly and Dementia Friendly city.

Age Friendly Leeds

Age Friendly Leeds aims to make Leeds the ‘Best City to Grow Old In’, where people aged 50+ lead healthy, connected, fulfilling and independent lives whilst feeling valued and respected.

The Age Friendly Leeds Network brings together statutory, voluntary, and private sectors and membership includes Age UK Leeds, Care and Repair Leeds, Centre for Ageing Better, Feel Good Factor, Groundwork Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds City Council, Leeds Older People’s Forum, Leeds Dementia Action Alliance, Leeds Playhouse, University of Leeds, West Yorkshire Combined Authority. 

Dementia Friendly Leeds

Dementia Friendly Leeds is a campaign to raise awareness of dementia and make services more accessible. It is a partnership between Leeds Older People’s Forum and Leeds City Council. The aim is to ensure people living with dementia – along with their carers – remain an active part of their city and keep doing the things they enjoy.

Friendly Communities

Leeds is committed to being a city where older people and those living with dementia feel welcome, valued, and able to take part in everyday life. At the heart of this work is the Friendly Communities Project, led by Leeds Older People’s Forum, which aims to make the city a place where everyone can live well as they age. The project works with local businesses, organisations, and communities to create environments that are accessible, supportive, and understanding of the needs of older people and those living with dementia.

Through these initiatives, the Friendly Communities Project is reshaping how the city thinks about ageing and dementia. It’s not just about making services accessible — it’s about fostering a culture where older people and those living with dementia feel valued, safe, and able to participate. Leeds is showing that small, practical changes, combined with community support and awareness, can make a real difference in building a city that works for everyone.

An Age and Dementia Friendly City

The Age Friendly Leeds Strategy and Action Plan for 2025 – 2030 can be viewed below or in full via their website.