The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) would like to welcome you to the fourth 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 2009
Age Awareness Week will run from Monday 28 September to Saturday 3 October 2009. This year's theme of representation will challenge attitudes and practices of how older people are portrayed and represented in society. Older people are experts on ageing issues and through meaningful engagement, debates, creative and innovative thinking, and by recognising the opportunities if 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 for five years, the partnership brings together Age Concern Help the Aged 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, each led by a partner organisation:
Age Concern
Help the Aged NI
Equality policy development with older people and public bodies, capacity building, co-ordination and communication with older people and age sector organisations and the coordination of Age Awareness Week.

Queen's University Belfast
Research and policy evidence that will support the work of age sector organisations and inform politicians, government and the wider policy family.

Workers' Educational Association
Leadership and lobbying training to build advocacy skills among older people and groups.