The Age Divide

This month, a new report confirmed that in England, growing old in the North is harder than in the South.

The Ageing in the North report, produced by five northern universities and the Northern Health Science Alliance, lays it out clearly. Older people in the North are more likely to experience poverty, loneliness and poor health, and live in substandard housing. Most starkly, the report confirms that people in the North have a lower life expectancy and fewer years lived without disability compared to the national average. 

Almost a third of the UK’s older population lives in the North, but their experience of ageing is shaped by ongoing disadvantages. The wealth gap between North and South becomes even more pronounced after 60, and it continues to widen with age. In Yorkshire and the Humber, the number of people aged 65 and over living in poverty increased by around 10% between 2012 and 2022. 

In Yorkshire and the Humber, the number of people aged 65 and over living in poverty has increased by around 10%. 

These inequalities are mostly systemic. The report points to economic, political, and social factors as the key drivers of unequal ageing. The North’s long-standing deprivation in housing and education has limited lifelong earnings and savings. As a result, older people here are less likely to retire by state pension age, and more likely to leave work due to sickness, injury, or disability. 

For people like Gordon, a 75-year-old Big Issue North vendor outside Manchester’s Victoria Station, the reality of working beyond retirement age is all too familiar. Gordon has sold the magazine for around 15 years: “The reason I’m still working? It helps me pay for some of my bills and for life insurance, which I have, so I can leave my sons something when I go.”  

Gordon is far from alone. Around one in five of our Big Issue North vendors are over 50. Several are in their 60s and 70s. Their reasons for selling vary, but the needs are the same: to earn an income and to have stability and structure. For Bjorn, 73, a vendor based in Leeds, the extra money matters. “My pension is very, very low, so selling the magazine helps me to earn a bit extra,” he says. 

Housing is another key focus of the report. Across the region, over a third of homes classed as ‘non-decent’ are occupied by people aged 60 or over. The highest concentration of poor-quality housing in England (over 60%) is in the North West.  

over a third of homes classed as ‘non-decent’ are occupied by people aged 60 or over. The highest concentration of poor-quality housing in England (over 60%) is in the North West.  

These homes are often damp, cold, and in disrepair. These factors increase the risk of illness, depression, and hospitalisation for older people. This has a knock-on effect on already stretched NHS services. The report estimates that improving housing conditions for older people could save £588 million a year in NHS costs. 

Joe, who sells in Prestwich, knows the impact poor housing can have. Now in his 60s, he is open about his experiences: “I had a really rough time during lockdown. I was suicidal. I couldn’t get my antidepressants. I was behind on bills… Then I lost my house, which I’d had for years.” 

Joe now lives in supported accommodation: “It’s lovely. It’s quiet and there’s CCTV and security, so I feel safe. The Manchester Big Issue North office helped me out with furniture, and so did the hostel I’d been staying at and one of my customers.”  

Joe’s experience highlights just how closely housing and health are linked. Everyone needs a decent, secure, and affordable home, but as we age, our housing needs often change. Too often, those needs are overlooked or unmet. This leaves thousands of older people living in cold, unsafe, or unsuitable homes. Overwhelmingly, Age UK estimates that nine out of ten winter deaths caused by cold temperatures are among older people. 

The Ageing in the North report leaves little room for doubt: these inequalities are not inevitable, and they can be addressed. But doing so requires real action and commitment from policymakers, and meaningful investment in the people and places most affected. 

In the meantime, Big Issue North continues to provide a vital source of income and support for people of all ages, including those facing retirement challenges. By supporting us – through buying the magazine from your local vendors or donating to The Big Issue North Trust – you too can help older vendors like Gordon and Joe to earn an income and to stay safe.