Age
Age refers to the length of time an individual has lived; the duration of their life.
Society often refers to the different stages of an individual’s life e.g. childhood, adolescence, middle age, and old age.
Age also can also refer to the time of life when a person becomes qualified to assume certain civil and personal rights and responsibilities, usually at 18 or 21 years; legal age.
Yor-OK
The Children and Young People’s Plan has a priority, which commits to promoting and enabling an inclusive city.
Priority 22: Make sure that a commitment to equalities underpins everything we do by:
- delivering fair services and achieving equitable life outcomes for all children and young people, whilst respecting diverse needs and aspirations;
- recognising that equality is not about treating everyone the same. Children and young people can only achieve their absolute potential if diversity is recognised, valued and supported;
- concentrating support on those children, young people and families struggling against disadvantage and discrimination;
- fulfilling our legal duties in relation to gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, religion and belief, and age.
Facts and Figures
We are an ageing population and York is older than average. The ability to do a job needs to be determined by skills and capabilities, not just by the number of years of experience someone has. Service users should also not be stereotyped. A younger person might need services usually given too much older people, or not everyone who is old needs services. Services need to be designed on need rather than age.
“Overall the population of York is expected to increase from a baseline in 2006 by 6% by 2015, rising to nearly 10% in 2020. Within that period there will be increases above 40% in the 70-74 years and 85+ years age group. The increase in older people will have a significant impact on public services for this age group and for carers within the
community. “
“The gender split follows the national pattern with roughly equal numbers under 60 years of age and larger numbers of females than males in older age groups.”
Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, December 2008
The Law
The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 prohibit unjustified age discrimination, harassment and victimisation on grounds of age, of people of any age, young or old. This applies to employment, including ex-employees, and vocational training and covers the private and public sectors. The regulations cover recruitment, terms and conditions, promotions, transfers, dismissals, training and retirement.
For more thorough information please download the ‘Summary of age legislation’ produced by the City of York Council Equalities team.
Useful Web links
The Commission for Equality and Human Rights champions equalities and enforces UK equalities legislation. See their website for information and advice on rights and legislation.
ACAS have produced guidance for employers on age legislation – see their website for more info (downloads are on the right hand side)
The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) is at the heart of information policy, setting standards, delivering access and encouraging the re-use of public sector information. OPSI provides a wide range of services to the public, information industry, government and the wider public sector relating to finding, using, sharing and trading information.
The Government Equalities Office has responsibility within Government for equality strategy and legislation and take the lead on issues relating to women, sexual orientation and transgender equality matters.
