DUDLEY’S first Ageing Well Festival has been taking place this week, with many activities and events still left to enjoy before the end of the week.

Friday’s activities include crafting, a lunch club, indoor skittles and curling, while residents can get involved in Park Active sessions in Gornal and Wollescote as well as social meet-ups in Amblecote and Pensnett on Saturday.

Dudley Council’s Healthy Ageing Team will be also be at Dudley Market on Saturday morning with stalls, displays and information about ageing well.

The festival concludes on Sunday to coincide with International Older People’s Day with another Park Active session at Grange Park in Dudley and an online workshop dedicated to planning for later life.

The full programme of events taking place during the Ageing Well Festival is available online at https://lets-get.com/ageing-well-festival/

Councillor Matt Rogers, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for adult social care, paid a visit to the indoor bowls taster session at Age Concern in Stourbridge on Tuesday to meet some of the residents enjoying the week-long celebration of later life.

He said: “It was fantastic to see lots of people getting involved in the bowls session, making new friends and keeping active.

“Communal activities like this are an important part of later life and Age Concern in Stourbridge does brilliant work to help older people to maintain their social lives, which reduces isolation and loneliness.”

Councillor Ian Bevan, cabinet member for public health, added: “We’ve had some really positive feedback about the Ageing Well Festival from the people who have gone along to the events, which has been great to hear.

“There are still plenty of events to come this week, so I’d encourage anyone who’s interested to come and get involved.”

People aged 40 and over can attend the events and get inspired to change the way they age, meet new people and take part in fun activities.

More information about the festival is also available at all borough libraries or people can contact the healthy ageing team via phone on 01384 816437 or emailing healthyageing@dudley.gov.uk.