A NEW festival aimed at combating loneliness among older people is being launched in Chester.

Love Later Life will take place at Chester’s Storyhouse theatre on October 1,2 and 7.

The three-day event is programmed in partnership with Age UK Cheshire and Brightlife and will present performances, films, workshops, expert advice and events to celebrate “later life”.

Alex Clifton, artistic director at Storyhouse said: “For three days this autumn Storyhouse, together with Age UK Cheshire and Brightlife, will give its focus to combating loneliness within Chester's older residents.

“We want to welcome older people into the cultural centre and give them pre-eminence. There’s a line-up of arts and crafts, mindfulness workshops, one-stop-shops on pensions, retirement plans and digital workshops on how to use an iPad, together with laughter yoga, performances and improvisation. It will be fun, creative and informative.”

The festival will offer a range of advice and workshops with everything from laughter yoga and life coaching sessions to information on pensions, wills, probate and power of attorney - offering a rare chance to listen to leading experts.

There will be creative sessions festival goers can participate in including jewellery making, mindfulness classes, free arts and crafts and the rare chance to experience Virtual Reality and be part of a reminiscence project documenting older people’s memories.

Chris McClelland, Head of Brightlife, said: “We have a Father’s Day and Mothering Sunday so why not a Silver Sunday? A day when we can take a moment to value and celebrate the contribution older people make to our communities.

“If there’s a secret to being healthy and happy in later life, at Brightlife we believe that staying active, connected, learning new skills and being able to share your life experience is a major factor. On its simplest level it’s just about feeling part of something bigger than you.

“So that’s what we set out to create this year as part of Age UK Cheshire’s Love Later Life festival at Storyhouse.”

And Dale Meskell, CEO of Age UK Cheshire added: “We are living longer than ever before. Over 20 per cent of the population in Cheshire West and Chester is over 65 and this is projected to grow to nearly 25 per cent by 2026.

“This festival is a celebration of the opportunities, services, connections and change that people in later life want, need and hope to make. We are delighted to work with people in later life and our partners Storyhouse and Brightlife to create a stimulating programme of events designed to encourage people to ‘Love Later Life’!”

In celebration of National Older People’s Day on October 1 there will be a poetry open mic night for anyone to take part in.

Then on October 2 Halo Theatre will perform their latest production Over the Garden Fence, and the over 50s theatre group and Silver Singers Choir will also perform.

Storyhouse’s independent cinema will screen a selection of films celebrating later life including King of Thieves starring Michael Cane and The Little Stranger based on Sarah Waters’ ghost story.

Find out more at www.storyhouse.com/lovelaterlife