The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) would like to welcome you to the fifth Age Awareness Week, which continues to celebrate the diversity of older people's lives and highlight the positive contribution older people make to society.

About Age Awareness Week
Age Awareness Week, organised by the Changing Ageing Partnership, takes place around International Day for Older People which falls on 1 October each year. Age Awareness Week celebrates the diversity of older people's lives, highlights the positive contribution older people make to our society, increases public awareness and understanding of ageing issues and challenges negative attitudes to ageing.

Age Awareness Week 2010
Age Awareness Week will run from Saturday 25 September to Saturday 2 October 2010. This year's theme of recognition will challenge negative attitudes about older people's contribution to society, how we engage with older people and also stimulate public debates on the importance of recognising older people's skills, experiences, knowledge, achievements and contributions now and for future generations.

Older people are experts on ageing issues and through meaningful engagement, debates, creative and innovative thinking, and by recognising the opportunities of an ageing society we can transform negative attitudes, empower older people and create a richer society.

About the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP)
The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) was established in December 2005 to improve the quality of life for older people. Funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, the partnership brings together, Age NI, Queen's University, Belfast, and the Workers' Educational Association.

The CAP vision is of a strong, informed voice capable of challenging attitudes and approaches to ageing. The goal is to empower older people to transform how they are viewed by sections within our society. The programme has developed a holistic agenda that recognises the multiple realities of older people's lives alongside issues traditionally associated with older people such as health and social care, economic independence and community safety.

What will CAP do?
CAP's vision is delivered through three integrated programme strands:

• Equality policy development
• Research and policy evidence
• Leadership and lobbying training

Funder's Note
The Atlantic Philanthropies aims to make lasting change to the lives of vulnerable and disadvantaged older people and achieve social justice for them. To that end and through our support for Age Awareness Week we seek to strengthen the voice and social action of older people. With our grantees we also hope to improve the economic and health security of older people through advocacy and by influencing policy and to build the enduring capacity of those organisations who represent the interests of older people.