Full Of Life photography competition

They have come to remember on a day when others notice them from the crowd; it’s an opportunity to show the younger generation why they are as relevant now as they were when fighting for our country.

But once a year is hardly enough to recognise the contribution made by the older generation and Chris Weeks wants something done about this in York.

Chris works in the Adults, Children and Education at City of York Council and he says respect for older people is not just about honouring war heroes.

“We want to promote and celebrate the wealth of things that exist for older people in the city to contribute to their local communities, to stay active and to keep trying new things,” he says.

One of the ways is a photographic competition called Full Of Life which aims to get the city’s residents thinking more positively about ageing.

It’s not just a council initiative, but a partnership across the city with the likes of Age Concern, York Cares, York Older People’s Assembly and York Racial Equality Network.

“We need to get the message out and we’d like to see the whole city getting involved – young and old. The competition is about changing people’s perceptions because the older generation is not a drain on the public purse, they are a huge resource.”

Indeed. Where would we be without the help of grandparents and the many over-55s who are involved in voluntary work? Then there are sports clubs, where more often than not there is someone with a wealth of experience to offer the youngsters.

“We want the competition photos to reflect all of this… and more.”

The truth is we don’t have enough images reflecting how the older generation enjoys its time. There must be hundreds of stories across York, but this is not about daredevil pensioners. Every day examples of grandparenting and working or volunteering and socialising are just as important. The competition aims to build a snapshot of what over 55s do in their lives.

“We want to counter-balance stereotypical images of older people, raise their profile and recognise the contribution they make to our city,” says Chris. “I don’t know that it is celebrated in the way it needs to be.”

Part of the debate is what labels someone as old. Groucho Marks once said “you’re only as old as the woman you feel” and many in their mid-fifties would be horrified to be described as ageing.

But it’s all about mind-set and Chris says research shows a positive attitude to ageing is conducive to longer life.

“We have national role models like Dame Judi Dench, who at 76 is still at the top of her game,” he says. “Now we want to find local heroes who are also role models for the older generation.”

The photographic competition came after a review to see whether York is prepared for an ageing population. And the statistics show we need to be, because In York the 55+ group will rise by 33 per cent by 2029 while at the same time there will be 83 per cent more people aged over 85.

And the competition aims to change perceptions of older people.

Sally Hutchinson, Chief Officer of Age Concern in York, says anything that emphasises the value of people in later life has to be a good thing.

“The competition is a fabulous idea, older people are not just in receipt of services, they deliver them as well and we have 400 volunteers in York doing extremely valuable work.

“So to have positive images of what they are doing is important; this is a very exciting project.”

Olivia Pumphrey couldn’t agree more. She is helping to collate pictures at the University of York and is looking for dynamic photos that show people having fun in the community.

“We have one of three elderly men running through the snow and you wouldn’t associate that with people their age. But why don’t we? When I’m 60 I’d like to think I’d still be doing that sort of thing and hopefully this competition will help change people’s perspectives.”

Olivia also has a picture of silver surfers being taught by pupils at St Peter’s School and she says there were no barriers, instead teenagers and pensioners were having fun; concentrating on what they had in common, not what separated them.

“There’s often a negative stereotype both ways and that doesn’t help. We went to a past history session and two children were listening to stories told by a 60 year old lady. They couldn’t have learned that from a book because she was talking from personal experience.”

The most difficult gap to bridge may be with teenagers, but York Youth Council is preparing a similar project to portray young people in a better light.

During the summer an exhibition will be held at City Screen on Coney Street and Chris hopes the two projects will be able to collaborate in a bid to break down the highest of barriers. But for now let’s hope that with your help, the Full Of Life competition will help younger people realise that life really does begin at 50.

It’s time to get the camera out.

Entries must be received by noon on June 13 and can be emailed to fulloflifeyork@gmail.com or sent to Full of Life – Photography Competition, c/o York Cares, Careers Service, The University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD.

For a full set of categories, rules and to download an entry form visit: sites.google.com/site/fulloflifeyork/ The best images captured through the competition will be used in publications and publicity material produced by City of York Council to help promote and develop a positive attitude towards ageing in York, and to recognise the contribution older people make to the life of the city.

The winners will be invited to a reception and exhibition launch in June. Some will also get the chance to spend a day with Press photographers or tour the University of York’s Theatre, Film and TV department.