Since 2003 Paul has led Manchester’s multi-agency Valuing Older People (VOP) partnership. The partnership works across public and community sectors, and with local residents, to improve the quality of life of Mancunians in mid and later life.

The partnership has placed a specific focus on reducing social exclusion experienced by older people living in Manchester’s disadvantaged communities.

Manchester City Council is recognised as a forward-thinking local authority and in October 2009 published, “A Great Place to Grow Older”, a ten-year strategy to create an ‘age-friendly’ Manchester. In June 2010 Manchester was one of nine cities worldwide to be admitted into the World Health Organisation’s Age-Friendly Cities programme.

Key programmes have included the award-winning “Positive Images” campaign, an innovative intergenerational programme and joint work with a range of academic and research institutions.

Paul manages a seven-strong team and is completing an MA in social gerontology at Keele University. Paul is a member of the Working with Older People editorial board.