Jeff Smith, MP for Manchester Withington, met with older people from across the country at an event in Parliament organised by the charity Age UK.

The Age Champions event was the charity’s annual summer reception and highlighted the challenges of an ageing population and opportunities in later life.

MPs heard how they can tackle issues affecting older people in south Manchester and across the country, including loneliness and isolation, social care and ‎the importance of a decent income.

Speaking at the event, Jeff said: “Every older person has the right to live with dignity and enjoy a fulfilling life.  The social care crisis and the stripping away of community care such as befriending services make that more difficult for most older people.

I look forward to working with Age UK and others to make sure older people are at the top of this Government’s agenda”

Age UK Chief Executive, Tom Wright CBE, said: “I am delighted to say that we now have over 130 Age Champion MPs from all sides of the House and I hope that many others will want to join as this Parliament proceeds”

“Issues like the fragility of our social care system and the chronic loneliness that affects too many are not going away and our older population badly needs us to find solutions for them”.

Throughout the event MPs learned more about how Age UK can help them to improve the lives of older people in their constituencies and make the most of their role as an ‘Age Champion’.

For more information about your local Age UK and Age UK’s work more generally please visit www.ageuk.org.uk ‎