In an ageing Europe, the need to foster inclusive, supportive and empowering environments for senior adults has never been greater. The Erasmus+ project “European Senior Friendly Communities” (ESFC) responds to this need by working toward the creation of communities that actively promote the well-being, participation, and rights of senior citizens across the continent.

Why ESFC?

With the increasing demographic shift toward an ageing population, many communities face challenges in adapting to the evolving needs of senior adults. From inaccessible infrastructure to social isolation, seniors often encounter barriers that limit their autonomy, mobility, and social inclusion. ESFC was born out of a shared European vision: to transform communities into age-friendly spaces that value the voices, experiences, and contributions of seniors.

What are we aiming for?

ESFC has a clear and ambitious goal — to develop and promote inclusive practices at the local level that empower senior people and enable their full participation in social, cultural, and civic life. The project specifically aims to:

• Support community stakeholders, educators, and volunteers in acquiring new tools and knowledge to engage senior adults effectively.

• Strengthen the participation and visibility of seniors in community life.

• Promote intergenerational solidarity and mutual understanding.

• Identify and share good practices for building senior-friendly communities.

• Develop practical training modules and resources focused on key areas such as transportation, housing, social inclusion, and healthcare.

• Foster a transnational exchange of ideas and innovation between partner organisations.

What have we done so far?

Since its launch, ESFC has brought together organisations from Italy, Spain and Ireland — each with expertise in ageing, community development and adult education. The project has already completed several important milestones, including:

• A successful transnational kick-off meeting in Seville, Spain, where the foundations of the project were set.

• Local and transnational focus groups with key target groups: educators, seniors, and local stakeholders. These sessions collected first-hand experiences and insights into the challenges and opportunities for making communities more senior-friendly.

• The creation of training modules focused on key dimensions of senior inclusion, such as accessible transportation, social participation, respectful urban spaces, healthcare, and age-friendly housing.

• A second transnational meeting and study visit in Bitonto, Italy, where partners deepened their collaboration, discussed implementation strategies, and explored good practices in the local community.

• The publication of two newsletters summarising project progress and results, now available on both the EPALE and E.N.T.E.R. platforms.

What’s next?

Looking ahead, ESFC will pilot educational activities at the local level, launch awareness campaigns, and work toward creating a European Network of Senior Friendly Communities — a platform to sustain collaboration and innovation beyond the project’s duration. These efforts will culminate in international events and the sharing of open-access resources on the project website: www.esfc-project.com.

A shared commitment

At the heart of ESFC lies a firm belief: ageing is not a burden, but a valuable stage of life that deserves dignity, support, and visibility. As partners in this project, we are deeply committed to building a Europe where seniors feel not only included — but truly at home.

Stay connected with us as we continue this important journey toward a more inclusive, age-friendly Europe. Because communities that are good for senior people are good for everyone.