1 Aug 2011

Now we're 64



Our country's population is ageing, and as much as 20% of us are now over 65. But how are we utilizing the experience and knowledge of those men and women who helped build our society?

It was recently announced that one in four of our children aged 16 and under will live to become a 100 years old, according to the Department for Work and Pension. Demographic experts warn that this means we completely have to re-structure everything from pension and healthcare to work balance. 

But instead of being a burden, and liability to our future economy, there is plenty of elderly in our country, who are providing charities with invaluable experience and time.

In Maria Jackson's documentary "Now we're 64" we meet passionate volunteers from charities such as Age UK, CSV, Citizens UK, The Prostate Cancer Society and St. Francis Hospice, sharing their experiences on what staying active and still play a part in our communities mean to them; from 85 year old Lotti, who marked by starvation in second world war's Germany is dedicated to limit food waste, to 65 year old Geoff who just battle aggressive prostate cancer and recently received the ThirdSector’s excellence award for successful fundraising for prostate cancer research.

On this journey we also meet charity spokespeople, many of which are critical against our society's lack of appreciation of our older generation and what it has to offer.




Listen to the radio documentary "Now we're 64"