Haringey (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Bruce Castle Park and Museum came alive on 20 September as Haringey held its second Age Well Festival, celebrating healthy ageing and community spirit.
This lively, all-inclusive event celebrated community connectedness, wellness, and aging.
The Purple Parade, a vibrant procession honoring visibility and vibrancy in later age, kicked off the day.
Following the parade, Council Leader Cllr. Peray Ahmet and Haringey Mayor Cllr. Ahmed Mahbub formally launched the festival, welcoming guests and praising the borough’s dedication to helping its senior citizens.
Festival attendees engaged in several initiatives offered as part of the Open University project “Take Five to Age Well” in which participants are encouraged to Connect, Think, Move, Eat, and Drink as part of a healthier and happier way of living. The park and the museum were divided into ten highlighted zones.
The festival offered something for everyone, from tai chi and chair yoga in the Wellbeing Zone to arts activities, live music, and dance performances on the Main Stage. There were performances from groups such as the Rengin Kadin Choir, Rahmel Lee, The Bakelites, Mi Viejo San Simon Bolivian Dance Troupe, and the celebrated Andean band Kausary.
GP talks, art therapy, walking football, Nordic walking, and many other activities centered around health and physical activity. Interactive activities like Shared Reading and Singing for the Brain are ideal for people who want to engage with their community.
The Bruce Castle Museum’s Life Long Learning Zone provided a serene, dementia-friendly setting for creative writing, poetry readings, and local film screenings, including the Haringey Intergenerational Podcast.
Cllr. Emily Arkell, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure; Cllr. Lucia das Neves, Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care and Wellbeing; and Ian Adams MBE, Chair of Public Voice CIC, addressed the attendees to thank everyone at the end of the event. They thanked all the participants and conveyed the importance of the day, in bringing people together as a community.
The festival was organized and run in conjunction with Public Voice, with support from many local community organizations, volunteers and sponsors. These included our Zone sponsors Home Instead, Lendlease, and Nwando Care, as well as the Main Sponsors Anchor Life in Place and Formation Design & Build, as well as the National Lottery Community Fund.
Which organisations exhibited and how to apply to exhibit?
Organizations that would like to exhibit or become involved in future Age Well Festivals in Haringey are encouraged to contact Haringey Council or Public Voice, the festival partners.
In most cases, the application process is about submitting proposals or outlines of your organization’s activities related to healthy aging, social inclusion or cultural involvement, to a similar community festival.
Residents can watch Haringey Council’s events or community engagement pages for official calls for exhibits. You may also get orientation from local council leisure and culture departments, or Haringey One You team, in contacting these organizations.