Come and join us on Older Persons' Day

A free event to celebrate older people in Reading’s community is being held on the internationally recognised Older Persons' Day 2025.

There will be a multitude of stalls on the ground and first floor of the Broad Street Mall with specialist advice and support aimed at older people, their families and friends.

As well as information, there will be opportunities to take part in dance and exercise with performances from Tilehurst Square Dance Club, Dunsden Green Country Dance Club, the council’s leisure providers Better, and listen to the Age UK Berkshire choir.

Other highlights on the day include -

• Community Wellness Outreach team offering free NHS Health Checks
• Citizens Advice Reading and Age UK Berkshire will be offering benefit advice and pension credit advice
• ‘Ask Your Councillor’ stall throughout the whole event.

The event has been organised by Reading’s Older People’s Working Group, supported by Reading Borough Council, Age UK Berkshire and Age UK Reading.

Councillor Paul Gittings, the Lead Councillor for Adult Social Care and chair of Reading’s Older People’s Working Group, said: "This event is getting bigger and bigger, and this year over 30 organisations are joining us to support you.

“It shows how important older people are to our communities and what advice and assistance is out there from community organisations and charities.

“Come along and see what there is to offer, stay to watch our local dance and singing groups or maybe get involved.

“Thanks to the Older People’s Working group for doing such a good job of organising the event, every organisation coming, and Broad Street Mall for hosting between 9.30am and 2pm on Wednesday 1 October."

International Day of Older Persons is observed annually on 1 October. It is a day dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the resilience and contributions of older individuals in our communities. This year the global theme is inclusive aging.

Reading’s Older People’s Working Group is made up of older people and organisations who work to support residents throughout the borough. Issues are raised and explored at the quarterly meetings, giving older people a voice.

Anyone interested in discovering more about the group or joining, email OPWG@reading.gov.uk or call 0118 9373856.

Organisations attending include:

Age UK Berkshire

Age UK Reading

SSEN – Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks

Understanding Dementia

Reading U3A

Readibus

Engage Befriending

Get Berkshire Active

Reading Older People’s Mental Health team and Memory Clinic

Cancer Champions

Oddfellows

Reading Community Learning Centre

National Pensioners Convention – Thames Valley

Citizens Advice Reading

Reading Voluntary Action Community Wellness Outreach

Virgin Media 02

Berkshire West, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire Integrated Care Board (NHS App)

Sheltered Housing

Compass Recovery College

Sustainable Communities (RBC)

Adult Social Care (RBC)

Caversham Bridge Club

Tilehurst Square Dance Club

Together for Mental Wellbeing

Berkshire Vision

DWP Job Centre 50plus team

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue.

Healthwatch Reading

Whitly Community Development Association

Berkshire Cancer Centre – Macmillan Support

Dunsden Green Country Dance Club