A major initiative to support older people across The Cotswolds has been launched following a £1 million investment from The Summerfield Charitable Trust.
Age Friendly Cotswolds is a three-year initiative designed to improve the quality of life for older people and create lasting, community-led change. It brings together local voluntary sector organisations to work alongside older people to strengthen their connection, wellbeing and influence across towns and rural communities.
The Cotswolds has one of the highest proportions of older residents in Gloucestershire, with numbers continuing to grow. Many older people want to remain active, connected and involved in community life. But rural isolation, limited transport, digital exclusion and fragmented services can make this increasingly difficult.
Age Friendly Cotswolds will focus on four priority themes: health and wellbeing, social and civic participation, empowerment and resilience, and impact and influence. Alongside the themes, a Community Chest will provide small grants to support locally led ideas, and a Volunteer Ambassador programme will help amplify older people’s voices in decision-making and strengthen peer connections.
Age Friendly Cotswolds will be delivered by four organisations: The Churn Project, Cotswold Friends, Tetbury Area Youth & Community Trust and Age UK Gloucestershire. In partnership, they bring experience of working alongside older people and creating inclusive, community-led approaches. Older people will be actively involved in shaping priorities and influencing the work that is carried out. Early work in 2026 will be focused on selected towns and surrounding rural communities before extending more widely across the Cotswold District.
Sarah Bourne, CEO for The Churn, said:
“Age Friendly Cotswolds is about connection, contribution and choice. The Initiative recognises older people as a strength within our communities and supports them to remain active, involved and influential in shaping local life. This investment allows us to work together in a different way – building on what already works locally and creating the time and space to listen, learn and act alongside older people.”
David Owen, Chair of Trustees at The Summerfield Trust said:
“Creating age-friendly communities is about more than improving services; it’s about ensuring that older people feel valued, connected, and able to thrive. The Age Friendly Cotswolds initiative reflects a shared commitment to listening to local voices and shaping environments where everyone can live well as they age.
“This work also demonstrates the transformation of the Summerfield Charitable Trust’s approach – moving towards co-production and working hand-in-hand with communities to drive social change and improve lives. By investing in this way, we’re helping to build stronger, more inclusive communities that recognise the contribution of older residents and support their wellbeing for the long term. We’re really pleased to have worked with Gloucestershire VCSE Alliance to develop this initiative and with Age UK Gloucestershire, The Churn Project, Tetbury Area Youth & Community Trust and Cotswold Friends to deliver it.”
Matt Lennard, CEO at VCSE Alliance said:
“This is another strong example of what the VCSE sector can achieve through effective partnership working. We are confident that these partners will make a genuine difference to people’s lives and showcase new ways for individuals to play active, meaningful roles in their communities as they grow older. Our older population deserves to be celebrated, and this work reinforces the reality that older people are vital assets to our communities.
“Working with The Summerfield Charitable Trust is a real privilege. Once again, they are demonstrating how strategic, community-led investment can deliver lasting, positive impact across our county.”