COUNCIL leader Drew Mellor has backed a call for the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area to become an internationally recognised age-friendly community.

He was responding to a question at a council meeting from Prama chief executive Steve Robinson who called for the council to back a bid for the World Health Organisation status.

Cllr Mellor said the council was committed to recognising everybody and would support a joint application to achieve the recognition.

“Many of our Bournemouth, Poole or Christchurch residents are in their mid or later life, or perhaps living with some vulnerability which makes their everyday life, or just feeling that they belong to that community, a bit more challenging for them. We are delighted to work with you at Prama..and are very pleased to support a joint application to become an age-friendly community as part of our corporate strategy to help people lead active, healthy and independent lives, adding years to life and life to years,” he said.

Cllr Mellor said key features of an age-friendly community included good transport, communication and outdoor spaces, volunteering and employment opportunities, leisure and community services and health, dignity and social inclusion.

“We want older people to remain a key part of the community as they lead healthy and active later lives. Older people’s knowledge and expertise gained over many years will be celebrated and shared inter-generationally as they participate in activities they value and enjoy.”

He said many of the activities already existed across the area but needed to become more widely known and a better relationships built up with older residents.

“We will give full support to this application so we can celebrate our older population and enable them to fully enjoy their retirement years,” said Cllr Mellor.