Your chance to design the way older people are represented

By Tony Watts - Editor - 04/06/2008

“For Older People  - by Older People” that’s the message that Ruth Marks is sending out as she launches a nationwide competition to design the logo and strap line for the new Older People’s Commission for Wales.

The Older People’s Commission was formally established in Wales on 21st April 2008 when Ruth Marks took up her role as the Older People’s Commissioner. This is the first time ever that a Government, anywhere in the world, has created a role specifically to work with older people.

Ruth’s new role is to promote the interests of older people in Wales, encourage opportunities to broaden their lives and improve their quality of life, and eliminate age discrimination. And to get the ball rolling, she has now announced a competition where older people themselves will get to define – visually and verbally – the purpose of the new Commission.

“We’re all living longer, and an ageing society can be seen as a worldwide challenge - and a huge opportunity,” says Ruth Marks. “Older people make an important contribution to society and Welsh life. I strongly believe that this must be valued and respected. At the same time, their rights need to be protected: there are a great many older people who feel vulnerable and that their voice isn’t heard. Part of our role is to help make that happen.

“This is a brilliant opportunity for older people to put their own ‘stamp’ on what we are trying to achieve. We could easily have gone to a design agency and asked them to create something, but that would have missed the point. This project will be for older people … by older people.”

How the competition will work

As a brand new organisation and a ‘world first’ the Older People’s Commission need a logo and a strap line for immediate identification.

The competition will run from mid May until July 18th 2008 and the   winner announced in August at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in Cardiff. Both the logo and strap line need to have clear, positive and bilingual messages in keeping with the development of the Older People’s Commission strategy. They don’t have to be drawn to professional standards – it’s the strength of the idea that matters!

Since the Commissioner is keen to involve older people and encourage best practice in the treatment of older people in Wales she is launching the competition in conjunction with the University of the 3rd Age, Age Alliance, Gwanwyn and Mature Times.

This competition is not solely open to older people but also as part of a number of intergenerational projects – where youngsters will join forces with their parents’ and grandparents’ generation. The Commission is pleased to develop the competition with the Children’s Commission, Art Colleges and the Beth Johnson Foundation.

If anyone requires further detail about the competition please contact the Older People’s Commission by e.mail logocompetition@olderpeoplewales.com,  by telephone  07 521 414 743 or by post – Logo competition, Older People’s Commission, Temple Court, 13 Cathedral Road, Cardiff.  CF11 9HA