Older People’s Forums are coming of age
By Jayne Warren - 15/09/2008
Older People’s Forums are finally coming of age, providing many thousands not only with a voice, but also with the means to influence things in their local communities. And as they grow in strength across the UK, supported by regional Help the Aged development workers and small grants, they look set to become a serious force for the future - with the potential to shape policies at a national level.
Mature Times has had exclusive access to new research by the South West Foundation, which focussed on 50 forums in the South West Region, 36 of which are linked into the South West Seniors Network - and numbers are on the increase. Overall some 38,000 older people in the region are thought to be engaged with their communities, and the researchers were amazed at the visible impact forums are having - especially at a local level.
They have tackled issues ranging from the closure of local facilities such as day centres and post offices to ensuring that railways stations are manned for longer hours. And they have successfully lobbied for improvements in local transport, social care and disabled access to buildings.
Key to their success are the skills, experience and contacts of their own members - and extensive links into statutory agencies. Many know from experience how to lobby effectively. But it doesn’t stop at the local level. A number of forums have been highly effective at bringing a high profile to national issues, such as the unacceptable level of pensions, the unfairness of the Council Tax System and the rights of women pensioners.
Some forums choose a militant approach, prepared to appear in court to make their protest heard. The researchers openly admired the courage and determination of members’ collective and individual resilience. Bringing change to national policy is no easy task, they say: societies and “ships of state” are hard to turn around - but it hasn’t stopped older people trying with all their might.
Other forums feel more comfortable with advocacy and negotiation: “We thought we would benefit more from feeding the cat on cream than from beating it up,” was one comment made to the researchers. But, above all, the study has uncovered concrete evidence of the potential older people’s forums can have in influencing decisions. Their role ties in well with the current government agenda on “empowerment” - but is not led by it. Older people, concludes the research, are the serious force of the future...
The research has been funded by Help the Aged, and the final report should be available in October.