Helping Leeds to get '˜age-friendly'

15 December 2017...... Jo Cox's siter Kim Leadbeater with MPs Rachel Reeves and Seema Kennedy, launch the long-awaited final report of the Jo Cox Loneliness Commission at a special event in Batley. Picture Tony Johnson.

Inspired by similar successful projects in Nottingham and Manchester, ‘Come In and Rest’ encourages businesses to invite older people to pop in for a few minutes and sit down when they need to.

Participating organisations will put a sticker in their window to signal that theirs is a premise where older people know they are welcome.

Emily Axel, Age Friendly Officer for Time to Shine, said: “The Come In and Rest scheme strengthens Leeds’ commitment to being a great city to grow old in.

“We encourage businesses to let older people come in and rest for a few minutes if they need to.

“When older people are worried about not being able to sit down, they can lose their confidence to go out at all.

“Knowing that they can find somewhere to come in and rest means that they are more likely to go out in Leeds and as a result spend more time there.

“There is a distinct lack of publicly available seating in Leeds city centre and this helps to address the problem.”

According to a report from the Centre for Economics and Business Research, the over-50s account for 47 per cent of all consumer spending in the UK.

The ‘Come In and Rest’ scheme will be officially launched at St Gemma’s Hospice in Leeds next Thursday (January 25).

The event will be attended by councillor Rebecca Charlwood, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adults at Leeds City Council, amongst others.

The event, which starts at noon, is open to the public and lunch will be served.

To book a place, email [email protected] or call 0113 244 1697.