The Brightlife Festival aims to prove that age is no barrier to having fun, trying new things and making new friends. Launching on Sunday 1st October with a triple celebration to mark National Older Peoples Day, the International Day of Older Persons and Silver Sunday, the Brightlife Festival features a range of free events and activities designed especially for over-50s. With a packed programme featuring everything from arts and craft to gentle exercise taster sessions, the festival has something to suit all tastes. For those who prefer to just socialise, there are also lots of opportunities for a hot drink and a chat at one of several drop-in events throughout the week. “Community support, a sense of purpose and a feeling of belonging are the keys to a long and happy life,” says Head of Brightlife, Chris McClelland. “At Brightlife we have been working with local organisations for the last three years to provide these things to older people across Cheshire West and Chester. “We have already directly impacted on the lives of 1,000 lonely or socially isolated people over 50 living in the borough, and the 2017 Brightlife Festival is our way of reaching even more.” A full Festival programme is available to download on the Brightlife website at www.brightlifecheshire.org.uk Contact: Cath Logan – Brightlife Marketing and Communications Manager Tel: 01606 884444 Mob: 07765 960089 Email: cath.logan@brightlifecheshire.org.uk • Brightlife Festival Launch Event: ‘Memory’ Tea Dance – Date: Thursday 28th September Time: 13.30-14.30 and 14.45-16.15 Venue: Dingle Centre, Winsford, CW7 2AS • Compass Share Club – a taste of things to come in Winsford! Date: Sunday 1st October Time: 12.00-16.00 Venue: Dingle Centre, Winsford, CW7 2AS • Silver Sunday Afternoon Tea Party with Brighter Days Date: Sunday 1st October Time: 14.00-16.30 Venue: Tweedsmuir Sheltered Housing in Vicars Cross, Chester CH3 5PX • Chester Business Club Walk Date: Sunday 1st October Time: From 11.00 Venue: Meeting at Chester Racecourse • Love Later Life with Age UK Cheshire Date: Tuesday 3rd October Time: 10.00-16.00 Venue: Storyhouse, Chester CH1 2AR • Chatterbox Café and Brightlife Drop-in Date: Tuesday 3rd October Time: 10.30-12.30 Venue: New Images Youth Centre, Nixon Drive, Winsford CW7 2HG • Centurion Pub Social and Brightlife Drop-in Date: Tuesday 3rd October Time: 14.00-16.00 Venue: Centurion Pub, Vicars Cross, CH3 5LN • Digital Buddies Special Letterpress Event Date: Friday 6th October Time: 10.00-12.00 Venue: Storyhouse, Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR • Friday Friends Social Group Festival Party Date: Friday 6th October Time: 10.00-14.00 Venue: Young Person’s Centre, Malpas • Storyhouse Fun Palaces Event Date: Saturday 7th October Time: Various – throughout the day Venue: Storyhouse, Hunter St, Chester CH1 2AR Notes to Editors: • Brightlife is a partnership led by Age UK Cheshire (Registered Charity Number 1091608). It has been awarded £5m as part of the Big Lottery’s Ageing Better Programme. • Ageing Better is a £78 million investment of National Lottery funding from the Big Lottery Fund to support people in later life. This supports 14 partnerships across England: Birmingham, Bristol, Camden, Cheshire, East Lindsey, Hackney, Isle of Wight, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Sheffield, Thanet and Torbay. Partnerships work with older people to create new and enjoyable ways for them to be actively involved in their communities, helping to combat social isolation and loneliness. They do this by brining services together to improve their delivery and make them easier to access. • The Brightlife partnership includes: Age UK Cheshire, Older People’s Network, Cheshire West and Chester Council, West Cheshire CCG, Vale Royal CCG, Cheshire and Warrington Social Enterprise Partnership, Chester Voluntary Action, Deafness Support Network, Rural Community Services, Sanctuary Housing and West Cheshire Inter Faith Forum. • Nationally, over 1 million older people say they are always or often feel lonely, and two-fifths say the television is their main form of company. With the numbers of older people aged 65 or over in the UK predicted to rise by nearly 50% in the next 20 years, loneliness is an urgent problem.