Your City
Cardiff is committed to becoming an age-friendly city, where all older residents feel safe and supported in their community.
You can find information on topics such as age-friendly events, parks, transport and public toilet locations across the city.
Cardiff Hubs and Libraries
Cardiff Council operates Community Hubs all around the city where you can access council services, financial advice and support with employment.
Most hubs also have a library service and a publicly available toilet.
Age Friendly Events
Age-friendly activities and events based in Cardiff Hubs and Libraries across the city can be found on the Hubs website.
Volunteering
There are many ways you can help your local community and neighbours:
- Shopping for others
- Dog walking
- Helping people who are ill or self-isolating
- Online mentoring or socialising
- Litter picking and other community schemes
- Encourage businesses and organisations to take small dementia-friendly actions and pledge to become Dementia Friendly.
Find out about current opportunities:
- Volunteer Cardiff signposts Cardiff residents to opportunities, organisations and support available to enable volunteering in the city.
- Volunteering Wales promotes and develops volunteering in your area
- The Cardiff Volunteer Centre (C3SC)
- Become a Dementia Friendly Ambassador Volunteer
Transport
Concessionary Travel Card
If your primary address is in Wales and you’re either aged 60 or over or meet the Government’s disability eligibility criteria, you can travel for free on most bus services in Wales and the borders and get discounted or free travel on many rail services.
You’ll need:
- Your National Insurance number
- A recent council tax bill containing the name of your local council
- A digital passport-style photograph of yourself
- Proof of age and identification documents such as driving licence, passport, or birth certificate
If you would like a paper application form, please call 0300 303 4240. You can get help to apply from a community Hub.
Cardiff u3a (University of the Third Age)
Cardiff u3a (University of the Third Age) run a Bus Pass Thursdays group which arranges trips from central Cardiff using public transport that accept the Concessionary Bus Pass.
Cardiff Bus
Find information about live departures, routes and maps, service updates and more on the Cardiff Bus website.
Download the Cardiff Bus app to access journey planning, live times and purchase your bus tickets.
Buggy Scheme
Cardiff Mobility Buggy is a free service that helps those who need mobility assistance to get around and enjoy the full shopping and hospitality experience. The vehicle travels around Cardiff city centre between two prearranged locations and can hold up to three passengers, so friends and family can join.
The Mobility Buggy operates Monday to Thursday 8am to 4pm and Friday 8am to 3.30pm. It can be pre-booked by completing the request form or calling 029 2087 3888. When the booking is confirmed, you will get an email or text message. When you arrive, just show your proof of booking and enjoy the ride through the city centre.
VEST
VEST (Voluntary Emergency Service Transport) provide transport to people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan who are unable to access public transport.
Ring and Ride
You can use the Ring and Ride service to travel between locations in Cardiff and attend medical appointments.
Dial a Bus
Dial a Bus is a weekly service which provides transport to and from Cardiff city centre. You will be dropped off on Charles Street at the rear of Marks and Spencer and collected from the same location a few hours later.
Public Toilets
Having access to toilets is so important for people to be able to enjoy the city and participate in community events or social activities.
The Community Toilet Scheme enables local businesses like pubs, restaurants and shops, to work together with the Council to make more clean, safe and accessible toilets available to the public, without the expectancy of visitors to buy anything or access a service.
Changing Places
People with profound and multiple learning disabilities or with physical disabilities such as spinal injuries, muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis often need extra equipment and space to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably.
These needs are met by Changing Places toilets. Changing Places Toilets enable anyone, regardless of their disability, to go to the shops, attend hospital appointments, enjoy community life, socialise and travel.
To see the full list of publicly available toilets, have a look on the Visit Cardiff website. Cardiff’s community Hubs and Libraries are part of the scheme and have published a handy booklet which details the facilities available at each location – pop into a Hub to pick one up.
If you are a business or organisation that wants to increase footfall, be featured on the Visit Cardiff website, have a free window sticker and show your community spirit, please complete this form, detailing the toilet facilities that you have. You can withdraw from the scheme at any time.
If you have any questions about the Community Toilet Scheme, please contact public_conveniences@cardiff.gov.uk.
Look out for the window sticker on this page when you are out and about – it means that the business or organisation is happy for you to use their toilet facilities without having to access their services.
For more information about the Local Toilets Strategy in Cardiff, visit Local Toilets Strategy.
Parks
Cardiff is fortunate to have a fantastic range of parks and gardens scattered across the city, meaning that you are never far away from a green space to stretch your legs in.
Find out more about where the parks are and the facilities they have.
Citizens Panel
Are you satisfied with the Council services you receive?
Do you want to make a difference to how services are delivered in Cardiff?
Cardiff Council has its own Citizen’s Panel, made up of over 5,000 residents across the city who have signed up to share their views through a range of surveys and consultations across the year.
Currently, only about a third of the Panel are aged 55 or over, and there aren’t enough responses from over 75s to properly represent the number of residents in that age group. Hearing from a range of residents means that the Council are better able to know what people need, which in turn helps them to improve services.
You can join up by filling in the form online or picking up a paper copy at your local Hub or library. Anyone living in Cardiff is welcome to sign up, but the team particularly want to hear from residents aged 75 or over.
Cardiff’s Age Friendly Forum
The Cardiff Age Friendly Forum launched in May 2023.
The forum will be hosted by Cardiff Council and chaired by the Older Person’s Champion for Cardiff, Cllr Mackie. Consultation, information gathering and sharing will be the main purpose of the forum, with an overall aim of exploring how the lives of older people in Cardiff can be improved.
If you would like to put forward a representative of your organisation or older person’s group for membership, please email agefriendly@cardiff.gov.uk
50+ Forum
The 50+ Forum is made up of citizens of Cardiff aged 50 and over, who provide valuable support to the council when new developments are being considered by attending and sharing their views at consultation events.
If you’d like to join the 50+ Forum or have any questions about it, please contact agefriendly@cardiff.gov.uk.
Changes to how you vote in person
From May 2023, there will be a new law meaning that you’ll have to show a photo ID at polling stations before you can vote in person. You’ll need it for UK Parliamentary and Police and Crime Commissioner elections, but you won’t need it for Senedd or local government elections in Wales.
Visit Cardiff Council website for more information about changes to elections.
Ask Cardiff
Ask Cardiff is an annual survey undertaken by Cardiff Council. The survey gives people living and working in Cardiff and those visiting the city the chance to share their experiences of public services.We want to hear from as many people as possible, please encourage your friends, family and neighbours to complete the survey – all ages, all backgrounds and from all areas of the city.
