The later life audio and radio co-operative

This chapter considers the creation of the Later Life Audio and Radio Co-operative (LLARC) as an outcome of a participatory action research (PAR) project with a focus on facilitating later life civic participation. Developed in the UK, but with potential to become a global initiative, the LLARC is a collaborative network of older content creators, age-friendly radio stations, third-sector organisations, local authority actors, and academics with a shared interest in issues concerning ageing and later life. By showcasing diverse talk-based audio content created by older adults, the LLARC advocates for greater representation of older adults in public debates relating to key concerns of ageing societies. The LLARC members pursue three aims: (1) to challenge ageism and ageist stereotypes; (2) to advocate for intergenerational cohesion; and (3) to use community radio for community engagement. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the co-operative operates predominantly in digital spaces.

In this chapter, we focus on the transferability of PAR projects conducted in collaboration with older people into the creation of sustainable communities, a process driven predominantly by older adults themselves. We reflect on the trajectory that has seen an initial PAR project based in a single location evolve into a nationwide co-operative social movement of age activists, which is now positioned to welcome international members. Drawing together insights from social gerontology, human-computer interaction, and design research in relation to the key concepts of civic participation and digitalisation in later life, we highlight the role of digital technologies as catalysts to establish self-sustaining communities from PAR projects. Using the LLARC as an example, we consider the potential of PAR to support older adults’ civic participation beyond the end of the research period. We reflect on the impact of different stakeholders within the LLARC project, concluding with a critical discussion of the opportunities and challenges associated with participatory initiatives involving collaborations between older adults, researchers, third-sector partners, and public authority actors.