Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG)

Understanding the relationship between population ageing and urban change has become a major issue for public policy and an increasingly important area for interdisciplinary research. The Manchester Urban Ageing Research Group (MUARG) brings together researchers from a wide variety of disciplinary backgrounds. We are committed to working with national, regional and local government, third-sector organisations, NGOs, and older people, to promote 'age-friendly' urban environments. Our researchers work on a range of themes which connect ageing societies with various dimensions of urban change, including inequalities facing older people living in areas of multiple deprivations; how different dimensions of social exclusion impact upon the experience of ageing in urban environments; developing new approaches to urban planning and design; working with older people and other stakeholders as co-producers of knowledge about urban environments; understanding the influence of home and neighbourhood on the lives of older people; and collaborating with partners across Europe, North America and Asia to undertake studies around the concept of 'age-friendly' cities and communities, an approach developed by the World Health Organisation. Our aims are to undertake interdisciplinary research on urban ageing; to develop international collaboration and cross-national research on ageing and urbanisation; to promote new methodologies and knowledge exchange activities which involve older people as co-investigators; to assist the development of evidence-based local, regional, and national policies which aim to improve the experience of ageing in cities; and to secure internal and external funds to support work on urban ageing.