Community Partnerships Pride in Ageing
Published: 26 February 2025 by mbelfield
As part of its 50th anniversary year, LGBT Foundation is expanding the scope, reach and depth of its award-winning Pride in Ageing programme – empowering even more LGBTQ+ people over 50 and further addressing the growing crisis of loneliness and isolation in older LGBTQ+ communities.
Launched in 2019 by LGBT Foundation Patron Sir Ian McKellen and supported by Barclays’ LGBT+
employee resource group, Spectrum, LGBT Foundation’s Pride in Ageing has transformed the landscape for LGBTQ+ over 50s – creating joyful, safe spaces for connection and community, free from discrimination.
Expanding Life-Changing Services to Liverpool & Merseyside
From April 2025, Pride in Ageing will expand beyond Greater Manchester, launching a new programme of free social events in Liverpool and Merseyside. These events – ranging from workshops and museum visits to special gatherings – will provide vital support, social connection, and cultural opportunities for LGBTQ+ over-50s, helping to combat isolation and discrimination.
This expansion is part of LGBT Foundation’s extensive commitment to Liverpool, where new health and wellbeing services are also being introduced to ensure LGBTQ+ communities in the region have access to life-changing support.
Introducing Dita Garbo, LGBT Foundation’s First-Ever Ambassador
To champion positive ageing in LGBTQ+ communities, LGBT Foundation proudly welcomes RuPaul’s Drag Race UK star Dita Garbo as its first-ever LGBT Foundation Ambassador. Having publicly navigated their journey of coming out in mid-life as non-binary, Dita has become a powerful advocate for LGBTQ+ representation in later life. Marking their own 50th birthday this year, Dita will work with LGBT Foundation throughout 2025 to challenge ageism in LGBTQ+ spaces and promote a culture of celebration and inclusion for older LGBTQ+ people.
On her appointment, Dita Garbo (pronouns she/her in drag and they/them out of drag), star of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK Season 6 and LGBT Foundation Ambassador said: “It feels fantastic to be turning 50 and we’re all going to age so it’s an important topic for all of us in LGBTQ+ communities to think about. Being announced as an ambassador for LGBT Foundation feels like the perfect match as we are both celebrating our 50th this year. Being the oldest queen on the recent season of Drag Race UK I feel the need to represent and talk about things related to getting older and celebrating the older people in LGBTQ+ communities. With so many LGBTQ+ people relying on ‘chosen family’ it’s so important to have cross-generational spaces, such as those which LGBT Foundation’s Pride in Ageing Programme is running where LGBTQ+ adults from different generations can meet, learn about our shared histories and develop those important support links.”
Game-Changing Pride in Practice: Care Award
LGBT Foundation is also launching the Pride in Practice: Care Award, set to roll out in Greater Manchester and London in 2025, with a view to national expansion. This award will serve as a trusted mark of LGBTQ+ inclusivity for care providers, ensuring that LGBTQ+ residents in care homes and supported housing receive affirming, high-quality care from knowledgeable and inclusive staff. Building on the success of LGBT Foundation’s acclaimed Pride in Practice programme, this initiative will further transform healthcare access for LGBTQ+ people across the UK.
On the scaling up of the Pride in Ageing programme, Pauline Smith (pronouns she/her) and Mindy Meleyal (pronouns she/her), long-standing volunteers at LGBT Foundation and members of Pride in Ageing Advisory Group said: “In the year that LGBT Foundation turns 50, it’s fantastic to announce an extension of the vital support we provide to LGBTQ+ over-50s”, “We know that there is still so much to do in 2025 to end age discrimination in LGBTQ+ communities and to keep expanding our offers for older people, reaching those who are isolated and still yet to find LGBTQ+ hope and joy in their later years. As well as our continuing work in Greater Manchester, the Pride in Ageing programme will be proud to call Liverpool its home, and we look forward to offering an exciting programme of social activities for LGBTQ+ communities in the area.”
For 50 years, LGBT Foundation has been at the forefront of LGBTQ+ health, wellbeing, and equality. With this bold expansion of Pride in Ageing, LGBT Foundation continues to lead the way in ensuring that no LGBTQ+ person is left behind as they age.
To learn more and get involved, visit lgbt.foundation/pride-in-ageing-programme.
