A campaign to challenge cultural attitudes towards ageing and older people has been  launched in Halton with a month-long exhibition at Widnes Library.

#DoYouSeeMe? is a collaboration between Age UK Mid Mersey, Halton Borough Council and Cronton 6th Form College to encourage society to change their perspective about this group of people so that they are seen as more than their just their age

The idea is to break down barriers between generations, and encourage people to see beyond stereotypes and appreciate the value of older people in the community.

Age UK Mid Mersey, working with Halton Borough Council, initiated the campaign idea based on a set photographs that showed a range of older people looking into a mirror with a younger version of them reflected back. Age UK Mid Mersey translated these photos into a meaningful campaign around “respect” for older people. What followed was a series of inter-generational projects with staff and students at Cronton Sixth Form College, Widnes. With collaboration between the generations a powerful set of visual messages was produced.

The exhibition at Widnes Library  will feature all the photos taken by the college students. It was opened by Halton MP Derek Twigg and runs until February 28.

Age UK Mid Mersey’s campaign coordinator Clare Lightfoot said “Age UK Mid Mersey is passionate about enabling older people to enjoy later life. #DoYouSeeMe?  is the focus of our campaigning work respecting older people and celebrating their life time of experience and their wisdom; the value of age, a life well lived, lessons learnt and all that being older has to offer society.  We are not denying age – we are celebrating it.”

Mil Vasic, Halton Borough Council’s Strategic Director, People, says:  “We are working together with Age UK Mid Mersey on the ‘respect’ campaign which links in with our own campaign to end loneliness. It is about looking beyond a picture to appreciate an older person had a life before they got older and that they have so much to give back to their community.”

For further information contact doyouseeme@aukmm.org.uk