Age Action Alliance
The Age Action Alliance is an independent alliance of organisations, which has adopted a new approach to the problems of ageing, focused very clearly on finding practical means to improve the lives of older people.
Top lines
· The Age Action Alliance was launched on 30th September 2011 to coincide with Older People’s Day celebrations. Alliance partners will work together to improve the lives of older people and help transform communities into better places to grow older.
· More than 200 organisations from across the voluntary, private and public sectors have joined together to celebrate the lives of older people and address the challenges of our ageing society.
· The Age Action Alliance’s vision will be informed and driven by older people themselves. Alliance partners share the vision of improving older people’s lives; creating neighbourhoods where all older people are secure, valued and able to make a contribution to their local communities and wider society.
· As the first national initiative of its kind, Alliance partners will work together to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged older people, prevent deprivation in later life and challenge age discrimination
The Alliance’s vision to improve older people’s lives will ensure that
older people, today and tomorrow:
· Are visible, valued and heard.
· Can make informed choices about health and
wellbeing.
· Live in safe, warm homes.
· Have a strong network of friends, family or support in
our communities.
· Are able to access information and services they need - including those available on the internet.
· Live in places where their needs are met.
The Alliance’s work together will be based on the following
commitments:
· Engaging older people to find out what is important to them, then acting on it.
· Working as partners on issues when it adds value, or when problems cannot be resolved by working in isolation.
· Building on what already works well.
· Supporting organisations to develop realistic and measurable goals, and showing the difference we are making to older people’s lives.
Q&A
Where did the idea of an Alliance come from?
The Social Justice Cabinet Committee agreed on the 15th March 2011 to the proposal to form an alliance of organisations to work together to develop solutions to a range of issues faced by older people today. It was agreed that DWP and Age UK would work together to establish this alliance.
What is the Age Action Alliance?
It is an independent alliance of organisations, which has adopted a new approach to the problems of ageing, focused very clearly on finding practical means to improve the lives of older people.
Who are the Alliance partners?
Partners are drawn from across all sectors. They include organisations such as The Alzheimers Society, British Gas, Boots UK, Local Government Group, the English Forums on Ageing, Locality, Age UK, Microsoft, The Big Lottery Fund, the Beth Johnson Foundation, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the Centre for Social Justice the Association of Chief Police Officers, the University of the Third Age and the Department of Health, as well as many local and regional organisations - what they share in common is a commitment to work together to improve the lives of older people.
Appendix 1 shows the current Alliance membership.
Why is an Alliance needed?
People in the UK are living longer than ever before. Over the last century, average life expectancy has increased by thirty years and will continue to increase. Fifty years ago one child in ten could expect to live to be 100, today it is one in four. [1] In the UK there are now more people over State Pension age than children under 16. An ageing society isn’t coming tomorrow – it is with us today.[2] Too many of today’s older people find themselves in unsuitable housing, facing deprivation, isolation and exclusion. In the UK, 3.1 million people aged over 65 say that they go longer than a week without seeing a friend, neighbour or family member. In the UK there are now more people over State Pension age than children under 16. An ageing society isn’t coming tomorrow – it is with us today. Too many of today’s older people find themselves in unsuitable housing, facing deprivation, isolation and exclusion. In the UK, 3.1 million people aged over 65 say that they go longer than a week without seeing a friend, neighbour or family member.
Clearly, there is critical work to be done, not only to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged older people, but also to address the issues raised by our ageing society and to prevent future deprivation. There are areas which can be difficult to address by organisations working in isolation but working together, in partnership, the Alliance wants to develop practical solutions to the problems faced by so many older people today and to prevent future deprivation.
Will the Alliance build on any existing work?
The Alliance will build on current good practice within the voluntary, private and public sectors. It will look at Government programmes such as Ageing Well and Active at 60, as well as lessons learned from research. It will also try to coordinate existing and planned initiatives from across the public, private and voluntary sectors. The Alliance’s objectives will be evidence-based, drawn from the work of bodies such as the Centre for Social Justice, Local Government Group, Department for Work and Pensions, and the former Social Exclusion Unit, and focused on what older people say is important to them.
What role does Government have?
Government’s role is to promote and support the Alliance.
The Government fully endorses the Alliance and a range of Government departments have joined the Alliance as partners, alongside organisations from the private and voluntary sectors.
Which other Government Departments are Alliance members?
- Department of Health
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills
- Department for Communities and Local Government
- Department of Energy and Climate Change
- Cabinet Office (Office for Civil Society)
- Home Office (Government Equalities Office)]
What has Government said about the Alliance?
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said, "People are now living longer, more active lives and we must do more to reach out to older generations, not only to help the most vulnerable but also to better understand their needs and recognise the important role they play in society.
"So many older people take an active role in their local community that puts many of us to shame. I want to encourage others to follow in their footsteps, through volunteering and being part of the Big Society so we can all benefit from their experience, knowledge and enthusiasm.
"The launch of the Age Action Alliance will unite those working in this sector in celebration of the role of older people in this country and ensure their voice is heard at the very heart of Government."
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith commented "Just as we recognise the real opportunities of an ageing society we need to be alive to its challenges. We have a huge number of organisations doing fantastic work to get older people engaged in their local communities – the Age Action Alliance is about getting them together, talking
to one another, and sharing ideas about how social justice can be achieved for older people at a local level."
What is Age UK’s role?
Age UK led the initial development of the Alliance, with support from the Department for Work and Pensions, by convening the initial Stakeholder Workshop in May, and encouraging potential members to consider the contribution they might make.
How are you involving older people in this?
The Age Action Alliance’s vision will be informed and driven by older people themselves. The views of older people are of primary importance and crucial to the success of the Alliance. The Alliance is supported by a Reference Group, whose membership is drawn from the nine English Forums on Ageing. The Reference Group will feed its views directly to the Steering Group and Working Groups. In addition, the Steering Group has two places for Reference Group members, and older people’s representation is also evident on the Working Groups.
Who are the members of the Reference Group?
- Keith Sherman (West Midlands Later Life Forum)
- Pam Flynn (Future NW – NW Forum on Ageing)
- Tony Watts (SW Forum on Ageing)
- Charlie Hislop (SE England Forum on Ageing)
- Shelagh Marshall (Future Years – Yorkshire and the Humber Forum on Ageing)
- David Shallit (Positive Ageing in London)
- Peter Coeling (Future East – East of England Forum on Ageing)
- Liz Mandeville (East Midlands Later Life Forum)
- Alan Patchett (Years Ahead – NE Forum on Ageing)
Appendix 2 shows the roles and terms of reference for the Reference Group
We are also considering how older people from the devolved nations can contribute to the development of the Alliance.
Why weren’t older people involved from the outset?
Older people were involved from the outset. Firstly we had to see if the idea of an Alliance would gain support from across the public, private and voluntary sectors and if organisations would commit to work together. Once it became clear that there was an appetite for this, older people were approached to form an older people’s Reference Group, to advise the Alliance and challenge the direction of its work. The Reference Group consists of the Chairs of the nine English Forums on Ageing. They themselves determined the role of the Group and met well in advance of the Alliance’s launch [on 30th September]. As stated above, two members of the Reference Group sit on the Steering Group.
What is the distinction between the Alliance and the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing?
The Age Action Alliance is an independent alliance of organisations, which has adopted a new approach to the problems of ageing, focused very clearly on finding practical means to improve the lives of for older people
while the
UK Advisory Forum on Ageing is a strategic forum with a broad remit, providing a unique and wide ranging advisory function to Government on all aspects of the ageing agenda.
Roles between the two can be seen as complementary, a relationship that will be reinforced given both the close working relationship developing between the two groups, and the fact that a number of UKAFA members are already involved in the Alliance.
Who is going to pay for this?
We do not anticipate any significant costs associated with setting up the Alliance. Age UK has provided project management support towards the establishment of the Alliance and DWP provides some additional policy and analytical support from within its existing resources. Part of the Alliance’s work will be to identify how organisations can work together effectively and share their resources.
Isn’t this just about cuts? Aren’t you asking all these organisations to fill the gaps left by Government?
No. This is about central Government acknowledging that it does not have all the answers and recognising that engaging the expertise of a diverse range organisations, and older people themselves, may be the best way to produce effective solutions to many of the issues we face.
How will you know it has been a success?
The Alliance will agree its own measures of success. Its goals will be, clear, evidence-based, measurable and focused on what older people say is important to them.
Who is on the Age Action Alliance steering group?
· Elaine Squires (DWP)
· Michelle Mitchell (Age UK)
· Alan Hatton-Yeo (Beth Johnson Foundation)
· Dr Nori Graham (Centre for Social Justice)
· Evan Morris (Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service)
· Sandie Dunne (Local Government Group)
· Karen Mellanby (Locality)
· Andrew Bosner (Boots UK)
· Ambreen Shah (Big Lottery Fund)
· Charlie Hislop (Reference Group)
· 2nd Reference Group member (attending on rota basis)
How many Working Groups are there?
There are currently seven working groups of Alliance partners who are working together to develop practical projects to improve the lives of older people:
- Public health and active lifestyles
- Improving the lives of excluded groups
- Age-friendly environments
What about other areas such as transport, finance, and older workers, for example – shouldn’t there be a working group looking at these subjects?
The topics listed above were suggested at an initial stakeholder workshop, as being important, but clearly there are other areas of equal significance. We are looking to those Alliance members with similar interests to initiate work streams around these and other topics which are important to them and to older people.
When will I be able to be part of this?
There is an open invitation to organisations from across the voluntary, private and public sectors to sign up to the commitments in the Alliance’s Declaration. What is required is a willingness to work together to improve the lives of older people. Organisations interested in finding out more about the Alliance can go to its website www.ageactionalliance.org .
How do you plan to expand the Alliance?
Alliance members have been asked to promote the Alliance on their websites and use their contacts to identify other new members who may be willing to work together to promote the wellbeing of older people.
How do people receive communications about the Age Alliance?
- Members of the Alliance, and any other interested people/organisations receive regular electronic progress bulletins (“Connections”)
- The Alliance has its own Twitter (@AgeActAlliance) and Facebook pages
Appendix 1: Membership of the Age Action Alliance
1. 5050 Vision
2. 360 Forward Ltd
3. ACRE
4. Advocacy Plus
5. Age Alliance Wales
6. Age Concern Eastbourne
7. Age Concern Exmouth
8. Age Concern Slough and Berkshire East
9. Age UK
10.Age UK Camden
11.Age UK Cheshire
12.Age UK East Sussex
13.Age UK Kingstanding, Perry Barr and Weoley Castle
14.Age UK Lincoln
15.Age UK London
16.Age UK Oxfordshire
17.Age UK North Tyneside
18.Age UK Sunderland
19.Age UK Wolverhampton
20.Ageconsulting
21.Aged2Excel
22.Alzheimer’s Society
23.Anchor
24.Association of British Insurers
25.Association of Chief Police officers
26.Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
27.Beth Johnson Foundation
28.Big Lottery Fund
29.Boots
30.Bristol and Avon Chinese Women’s Group
31.British Gas
32.British Nordic Walking
33.Business in the Community
34.Cabinet Office
35.Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
36.Campaign to End Loneliness
37.Care and Repair England
38.Carers UK
39.Caritas Social Action Network
40.Centre for Policy on Ageing
41.Centre for Social Justice
42.Centre of Ageing and Mental Health at Staffordshire University
43.Change Agents
44.Chartered Institute of Housing
45.Cheshire Community Action
46.Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service
47.Chief Fire Officers Association
48.Citizens Advice
49.Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance
50.Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
51.Cleveland Fire & Rescue Service
52.Comic Relief
53.Coming of Age Partnership
54.Commission for Rural Communities
55.Community Energy Solutions
56.Community Lincs.com
57.Community Network
58.Community Service Volunteers
59.Contact the Elderly
60.Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service
61.County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.
62.Creative Support
63.Dementia Advocacy Network
64.Department for Business Innovation and Skills
65.Department for Communities and Local Government
66.Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
67.Department for Work and Pensions
68.Department of Energy and Climate Change
69.Department of Health
70.Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
71.Design Council
72.Digital Unite
73.Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
74.East Midlands Later Life Forum
75.East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
76. Eastern Region Older People’s Advisory Group
77. Eastbourne Seniors Forum
78.Ekta Project Action for Asian Elders and Carers
79.Elderly Accommodation Counsel
80.Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion
81.Enfield Over 50’s Forum
82.English Community Care Association
83.Equal Arts
84.Equality and Human Rights Commission
85.Essential Role of Sheltered Housing
86.Ekta Project.
87.Evergreen Care Trust
88.Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire
89.Finerday
90.FirstStop
91.Forster Communications
92.Foundations
93.Friends of the Elderly
94.Future East (East of England Forum on Ageing)
95.Future North West (North West Forum on Ageing)
96.Future Years (Yorkshire and Humber Regional Forum on Ageing)
97.Gateshead Older People’s Assembly
98.GO ON Adopt
99.Government Equalities Office
100. Grandparents Plus
102. Greater London Forum for Older People
103. Halton Borough Council
104. Hampshire County Council
105. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
106. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
107. Home Office
108. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
109. In My Prime
110. Independent Age
111. International Longevity Centre
112. Jewish Care
113. Joseph Rowntree Foundation
114. Journal of Dementia Care
115. Keele University – Centre for Social Gerontology
116. Kensington & Chelsea Forum for Older Residents
117. Kent Fire & Rescue Service
118. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.
119. LACE Housing Association
120. Laterlife Learning & laterlife.com
121. Learn with Grandma
122. Local Authority Elected Member Older Peoples Champions Network North West of England
123. Local Government Association
124. Locality
125. London Older People’s Strategies Group
126. Manchester City Council
127. Microsoft
128. Middleton Elderly Aid
129. Mobile Repair Service
130. National Association of Links Members
131. National Benevolent Fund for the Aged
132. National Development Team for Inclusion
133. National Energy Action
134. National Federation of Occupational Pensioners
135. National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
136. National Pensioners Convention
137. Nationwide Energy Services
138. NHS Confederation
139. NIBE
140. North West Elected Champions
141. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
142. Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
143. Older People’s Advocacy Alliance
144. Older People’s Champions Network
145. Open Age
146. Optical Confederation
147. Ottery St Mary and District Later Life forum
148. Over the Hill
149. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
150. Positive Ageing in London (London Forum on Ageing)
151. Premier Energy Solutions
152. Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise
153. Quality of Life Partnership
154. Reach
155. Royal College of Physicians
156. Royal College of Psychiatrists
157. Royal National Institute of Blind People
158. Rural Media Company
159. Rural Services Network
160. Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Service
161. Save Britain Money
162. Self Help Alliance
163. SENSE
164. Sheffield 50 +.
165. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
166. Silver Service (AC Manchester)
167. Social Care Institute for Excellence
168. South East England Forum on Ageing
169. South Wales Fire & Rescue Service
170. South West Forum on Ageing
171. South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
172. SSE
173. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
174. Start Here
175. Stockton on Tees Over 50’s Assembly
176. Stonewall
177. Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Service
178. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service
179. The Age and Employment Network
180. The Amateur Swimming Association,
181. The Elders Council of Newcastle
182. The Football League Trust
183. The Journal of Dementia Care
184. The Pepper Pot Centre
185. The Hyde Group
186. Thurrock Over Fifties Forum
187. TIC Green Energy
188. Trade Unions Congress
189. Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service
190. UK online centres
191. University of the Third Age
192. Urban Forum
193. Valuing Older People, Public Health Manchester, Manchester City Council
194. Vegetarian for Life
195. Vintage Blacon
196. Voice of the Listener and Viewer
197. Warrington Borough Council
198. West Midlands Later Life Forum
199. West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
200. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
201. Wise Owls
202. Years Ahead – (NE Forum on Ageing)
Appendix 2: Role of the Age Action Alliance Reference Group
The Age Action Alliance is clear that its goals should be rooted in evidence and focused on information given to us by older people. Its intention is to use the, “English Forums on Ageing”, as a Reference Group to ensure that the voice of the Older Person is truly powerful and included”.
- The Reference Group has set its own terms of engagement.
- The Reference Group recognises that older people are a diverse population and their views are not uniform. However, the Group reflects a range of views and is a resource that can offer specialist knowledge, in an advisory capacity, to both the Steering and Working Groups.
- The Reference Group will be a “sounding board” for the Alliance. It provides an opportunity for older people to influence and challenge the Alliance’s priorities and actions.
- The Reference Group also has a role in raising awareness of the Alliance, particularly at a local level. Reference Group members will talk to older people in their areas in order to feed back views to the Alliance Working Groups. It will also provide a means to test Working Groups’ plans with older people.
- The Reference Group will ensure the involvement of older people, or their representatives in the work of the Alliance.
- The Reference Group will consider the ongoing effectiveness of the Alliance’s work, and will have the opportunity to feed into the Alliance Evaluation Group.
- The Reference Group will report their involvement as a group, and the progress of the Alliance, back to their Forums.
Relationship with the Steering Group
The Steering Group will formally receive information and views from the Reference Group as a whole and there will be transparency between the two groups. The Steering Group will ensure that the Reference Group as a whole is kept aware of its activities. To facilitate this, a member of the Steering Group will be invited to attend Reference Group meetings and minutes will be exchanged between the two groups.
The Steering Group will make two places available to the Reference Group at each of its meetings.
Reference Group members attending the Steering Group will state the collective view of Reference Group members. However on issues where there is no collective view, Reference group members will reflect their personal views to the Steering Group.
Relationship with the Working Groups
The Reference Group as a whole will receive feedback from each Working Group. In addition, every Working Group will have at least one place for an English Forum representative from the Reference Group. The member from the English Forum will work alongside other members of the Working Group to help to shape the Group’s plans , including the design of their practical projects, and to develop the shared vision of the Group. Each English Forum will decide which Working Group(s) it wishes to partner, depending on its particular area of interest or expertise.
The Reference Group recognises that there are a range of groups that reflect the views of older people. It may share information with other groups and draw in their particular expertise.
[1] Latest ONS/ GAD projections
[2] Ibid
Age Action Alliance Q & A document v13 (02/04/2012)
The Age Action Alliance is an independent alliance of organisations, which has adopted a new approach to the problems of ageing, focused very clearly on finding practical means to improve the lives of older people.
Top lines
· The Age Action Alliance was launched on 30th September 2011 to coincide with Older People’s Day celebrations. Alliance partners will work together to improve the lives of older people and help transform communities into better places to grow older.
· More than 200 organisations from across the voluntary, private and public sectors have joined together to celebrate the lives of older people and address the challenges of our ageing society.
· The Age Action Alliance’s vision will be informed and driven by older people themselves. Alliance partners share the vision of improving older people’s lives; creating neighbourhoods where all older people are secure, valued and able to make a contribution to their local communities and wider society.
· As the first national initiative of its kind, Alliance partners will work together to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged older people, prevent deprivation in later life and challenge age discrimination
The Alliance’s vision to improve older people’s lives will ensure that
older people, today and tomorrow:
· Are visible, valued and heard.
· Can make informed choices about health and
wellbeing.
· Live in safe, warm homes.
· Have a strong network of friends, family or support in
our communities.
· Are able to access information and services they need - including those available on the internet.
· Live in places where their needs are met.
The Alliance’s work together will be based on the following
commitments:
· Engaging older people to find out what is important to them, then acting on it.
· Working as partners on issues when it adds value, or when problems cannot be resolved by working in isolation.
· Building on what already works well.
· Supporting organisations to develop realistic and measurable goals, and showing the difference we are making to older people’s lives.
Q&A
Where did the idea of an Alliance come from?
The Social Justice Cabinet Committee agreed on the 15th March 2011 to the proposal to form an alliance of organisations to work together to develop solutions to a range of issues faced by older people today. It was agreed that DWP and Age UK would work together to establish this alliance.
What is the Age Action Alliance?
It is an independent alliance of organisations, which has adopted a new approach to the problems of ageing, focused very clearly on finding practical means to improve the lives of older people.
Who are the Alliance partners?
Partners are drawn from across all sectors. They include organisations such as The Alzheimers Society, British Gas, Boots UK, Local Government Group, the English Forums on Ageing, Locality, Age UK, Microsoft, The Big Lottery Fund, the Beth Johnson Foundation, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the Centre for Social Justice the Association of Chief Police Officers, the University of the Third Age and the Department of Health, as well as many local and regional organisations - what they share in common is a commitment to work together to improve the lives of older people.
Appendix 1 shows the current Alliance membership.
Why is an Alliance needed?
Clearly, there is critical work to be done, not only to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged older people, but also to address the issues raised by our ageing society and to prevent future deprivation. There are areas which can be difficult to address by organisations working in isolation but working together, in partnership, the Alliance wants to develop practical solutions to the problems faced by so many older people today and to prevent future deprivation.
Will the Alliance build on any existing work?
The Alliance will build on current good practice within the voluntary, private and public sectors. It will look at Government programmes such as Ageing Well and Active at 60, as well as lessons learned from research. It will also try to coordinate existing and planned initiatives from across the public, private and voluntary sectors. The Alliance’s objectives will be evidence-based, drawn from the work of bodies such as the Centre for Social Justice, Local Government Group, Department for Work and Pensions, and the former Social Exclusion Unit, and focused on what older people say is important to them.
What role does Government have?
Government’s role is to promote and support the Alliance.
The Government fully endorses the Alliance and a range of Government departments have joined the Alliance as partners, alongside organisations from the private and voluntary sectors.
Which other Government Departments are Alliance members?
- Department of Health
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Department for Business Innovation and Skills
- Department for Communities and Local Government
- Department of Energy and Climate Change
- Cabinet Office (Office for Civil Society)
- Home Office (Government Equalities Office)]
What has Government said about the Alliance?
The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said, "People are now living longer, more active lives and we must do more to reach out to older generations, not only to help the most vulnerable but also to better understand their needs and recognise the important role they play in society.
"So many older people take an active role in their local community that puts many of us to shame. I want to encourage others to follow in their footsteps, through volunteering and being part of the Big Society so we can all benefit from their experience, knowledge and enthusiasm.
"The launch of the Age Action Alliance will unite those working in this sector in celebration of the role of older people in this country and ensure their voice is heard at the very heart of Government."
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith commented "Just as we recognise the real opportunities of an ageing society we need to be alive to its challenges. We have a huge number of organisations doing fantastic work to get older people engaged in their local communities – the Age Action Alliance is about getting them together, talking
to one another, and sharing ideas about how social justice can be achieved for older people at a local level."
What is Age UK’s role?
Age UK led the initial development of the Alliance, with support from the Department for Work and Pensions, by convening the initial Stakeholder Workshop in May, and encouraging potential members to consider the contribution they might make.
How are you involving older people in this?
The Age Action Alliance’s vision will be informed and driven by older people themselves. The views of older people are of primary importance and crucial to the success of the Alliance. The Alliance is supported by a Reference Group, whose membership is drawn from the nine English Forums on Ageing. The Reference Group will feed its views directly to the Steering Group and Working Groups. In addition, the Steering Group has two places for Reference Group members, and older people’s representation is also evident on the Working Groups.
Who are the members of the Reference Group?
- Keith Sherman (West Midlands Later Life Forum)
- Pam Flynn (Future NW – NW Forum on Ageing)
- Tony Watts (SW Forum on Ageing)
- Charlie Hislop (SE England Forum on Ageing)
- Shelagh Marshall (Future Years – Yorkshire and the Humber Forum on Ageing)
- David Shallit (Positive Ageing in London)
- Peter Coeling (Future East – East of England Forum on Ageing)
- Liz Mandeville (East Midlands Later Life Forum)
- Alan Patchett (Years Ahead – NE Forum on Ageing)
Appendix 2 shows the roles and terms of reference for the Reference Group
We are also considering how older people from the devolved nations can contribute to the development of the Alliance.
Why weren’t older people involved from the outset?
Older people were involved from the outset. Firstly we had to see if the idea of an Alliance would gain support from across the public, private and voluntary sectors and if organisations would commit to work together. Once it became clear that there was an appetite for this, older people were approached to form an older people’s Reference Group, to advise the Alliance and challenge the direction of its work. The Reference Group consists of the Chairs of the nine English Forums on Ageing. They themselves determined the role of the Group and met well in advance of the Alliance’s launch [on 30th September]. As stated above, two members of the Reference Group sit on the Steering Group.
What is the distinction between the Alliance and the UK Advisory Forum on Ageing?
The Age Action Alliance is an independent alliance of organisations, which has adopted a new approach to the problems of ageing, focused very clearly on finding practical means to improve the lives of for older people
while the
UK Advisory Forum on Ageing is a strategic forum with a broad remit, providing a unique and wide ranging advisory function to Government on all aspects of the ageing agenda.
Roles between the two can be seen as complementary, a relationship that will be reinforced given both the close working relationship developing between the two groups, and the fact that a number of UKAFA members are already involved in the Alliance.
Who is going to pay for this?
We do not anticipate any significant costs associated with setting up the Alliance. Age UK has provided project management support towards the establishment of the Alliance and DWP provides some additional policy and analytical support from within its existing resources. Part of the Alliance’s work will be to identify how organisations can work together effectively and share their resources.
Isn’t this just about cuts? Aren’t you asking all these organisations to fill the gaps left by Government?
No. This is about central Government acknowledging that it does not have all the answers and recognising that engaging the expertise of a diverse range organisations, and older people themselves, may be the best way to produce effective solutions to many of the issues we face.
How will you know it has been a success?
The Alliance will agree its own measures of success. Its goals will be, clear, evidence-based, measurable and focused on what older people say is important to them.
Who is on the Age Action Alliance steering group?
· Elaine Squires (DWP)
· Michelle Mitchell (Age UK)
· Alan Hatton-Yeo (Beth Johnson Foundation)
· Dr Nori Graham (Centre for Social Justice)
· Evan Morris (Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service)
· Sandie Dunne (Local Government Group)
· Karen Mellanby (Locality)
· Andrew Bosner (Boots UK)
· Ambreen Shah (Big Lottery Fund)
· Charlie Hislop (Reference Group)
· 2nd Reference Group member (attending on rota basis)
How many Working Groups are there?
There are currently seven working groups of Alliance partners who are working together to develop practical projects to improve the lives of older people:
- Public health and active lifestyles
- Improving the lives of excluded groups
- Age-friendly environments
What about other areas such as transport, finance, and older workers, for example – shouldn’t there be a working group looking at these subjects?
The topics listed above were suggested at an initial stakeholder workshop, as being important, but clearly there are other areas of equal significance. We are looking to those Alliance members with similar interests to initiate work streams around these and other topics which are important to them and to older people.
When will I be able to be part of this?
There is an open invitation to organisations from across the voluntary, private and public sectors to sign up to the commitments in the Alliance’s Declaration. What is required is a willingness to work together to improve the lives of older people. Organisations interested in finding out more about the Alliance can go to its website www.ageactionalliance.org
.
How do you plan to expand the Alliance?
Alliance members have been asked to promote the Alliance on their websites and use their contacts to identify other new members who may be willing to work together to promote the wellbeing of older people.
How do people receive communications about the Age Alliance?
- Members of the Alliance, and any other interested people/organisations receive regular electronic progress bulletins (“Connections”)
- The Alliance has its own Twitter (@AgeActAlliance) and Facebook pages
Appendix 1: Membership of the Age Action Alliance
1. 5050 Vision
2. 360 Forward Ltd
3. ACRE
4. Advocacy Plus
5. Age Alliance Wales
6. Age Concern Eastbourne
7. Age Concern Exmouth
8. Age Concern Slough and Berkshire East
9. Age UK
10.Age UK Camden
11.Age UK Cheshire
12.Age UK East Sussex
13.Age UK Kingstanding, Perry Barr and Weoley Castle
14.Age UK Lincoln
15.Age UK London
16.Age UK Oxfordshire
17.Age UK North Tyneside
18.Age UK Sunderland
19.Age UK Wolverhampton
20.Ageconsulting
21.Aged2Excel
22.Alzheimer’s Society
23.Anchor
24.Association of British Insurers
25.Association of Chief Police officers
26.Bedfordshire Fire & Rescue Service
27.Beth Johnson Foundation
28.Big Lottery Fund
29.Boots
30.Bristol and Avon Chinese Women’s Group
31.British Gas
32.British Nordic Walking
33.Business in the Community
34.Cabinet Office
35.Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation
36.Campaign to End Loneliness
37.Care and Repair England
38.Carers UK
39.Caritas Social Action Network
40.Centre for Policy on Ageing
41.Centre for Social Justice
42.Centre of Ageing and Mental Health at Staffordshire University
43.Change Agents
44.Chartered Institute of Housing
45.Cheshire Community Action
46.Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service
47.Chief Fire Officers Association
48.Citizens Advice
49.Civil Service Pensioners’ Alliance
50.Civil Service Retirement Fellowship
51.Cleveland Fire & Rescue Service
52.Comic Relief
53.Coming of Age Partnership
54.Commission for Rural Communities
55.Community Energy Solutions
56.Community Lincs.com
57.Community Network
58.Community Service Volunteers
59.Contact the Elderly
60.Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service
61.County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.
62.Creative Support
63.Dementia Advocacy Network
64.Department for Business Innovation and Skills
65.Department for Communities and Local Government
66.Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
67.Department for Work and Pensions
68.Department of Energy and Climate Change
69.Department of Health
70.Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service
71.Design Council
72.Digital Unite
73.Dorset Fire and Rescue Service
74.East Midlands Later Life Forum
75.East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service
76. Eastern Region Older People’s Advisory Group
77. Eastbourne Seniors Forum
78.Ekta Project Action for Asian Elders and Carers
79.Elderly Accommodation Counsel
80.Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion
81.Enfield Over 50’s Forum
82.English Community Care Association
83.Equal Arts
84.Equality and Human Rights Commission
85.Essential Role of Sheltered Housing
86.Ekta Project.
87.Evergreen Care Trust
88.Excellent Ageing Lincolnshire
89.Finerday
90.FirstStop
91.Forster Communications
92.Foundations
93.Friends of the Elderly
94.Future East (East of England Forum on Ageing)
95.Future North West (North West Forum on Ageing)
96.Future Years (Yorkshire and Humber Regional Forum on Ageing)
97.Gateshead Older People’s Assembly
98.GO ON Adopt
99.Government Equalities Office
100. Grandparents Plus
102. Greater London Forum for Older People
103. Halton Borough Council
104. Hampshire County Council
105. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service
106. Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
107. Home Office
108. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
109. In My Prime
110. Independent Age
111. International Longevity Centre
112. Jewish Care
113. Joseph Rowntree Foundation
114. Journal of Dementia Care
115. Keele University – Centre for Social Gerontology
116. Kensington & Chelsea Forum for Older Residents
117. Kent Fire & Rescue Service
118. Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service.
119. LACE Housing Association
120. Laterlife Learning & laterlife.com
121. Learn with Grandma
122. Local Authority Elected Member Older Peoples Champions Network North West of England
123. Local Government Association
124. Locality
125. London Older People’s Strategies Group
126. Manchester City Council
127. Microsoft
128. Middleton Elderly Aid
129. Mobile Repair Service
130. National Association of Links Members
131. National Benevolent Fund for the Aged
132. National Development Team for Inclusion
133. National Energy Action
134. National Federation of Occupational Pensioners
135. National Institute of Adult Continuing Education
136. National Pensioners Convention
137. Nationwide Energy Services
138. NHS Confederation
139. NIBE
140. North West Elected Champions
141. North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
142. Nottinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service
143. Older People’s Advocacy Alliance
144. Older People’s Champions Network
145. Open Age
146. Optical Confederation
147. Ottery St Mary and District Later Life forum
148. Over the Hill
149. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
150. Positive Ageing in London (London Forum on Ageing)
151. Premier Energy Solutions
152. Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise
153. Quality of Life Partnership
154. Reach
155. Royal College of Physicians
156. Royal College of Psychiatrists
157. Royal National Institute of Blind People
158. Rural Media Company
159. Rural Services Network
160. Rushcliffe Community and Voluntary Service
161. Save Britain Money
162. Self Help Alliance
163. SENSE
164. Sheffield 50 +.
165. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service
166. Silver Service (AC Manchester)
167. Social Care Institute for Excellence
168. South East England Forum on Ageing
169. South Wales Fire & Rescue Service
170. South West Forum on Ageing
171. South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
172. SSE
173. Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service
174. Start Here
175. Stockton on Tees Over 50’s Assembly
176. Stonewall
177. Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Service
178. Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service
179. The Age and Employment Network
180. The Amateur Swimming Association,
181. The Elders Council of Newcastle
182. The Football League Trust
183. The Journal of Dementia Care
184. The Pepper Pot Centre
185. The Hyde Group
186. Thurrock Over Fifties Forum
187. TIC Green Energy
188. Trade Unions Congress
189. Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service
190. UK online centres
191. University of the Third Age
192. Urban Forum
193. Valuing Older People, Public Health Manchester, Manchester City Council
194. Vegetarian for Life
195. Vintage Blacon
196. Voice of the Listener and Viewer
197. Warrington Borough Council
198. West Midlands Later Life Forum
199. West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service
200. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
201. Wise Owls
202. Years Ahead – (NE Forum on Ageing)
Appendix 2: Role of the Age Action Alliance Reference Group
The Age Action Alliance is clear that its goals should be rooted in evidence and focused on information given to us by older people. Its intention is to use the, “English Forums on Ageing”, as a Reference Group to ensure that the voice of the Older Person is truly powerful and included”.
- The Reference Group has set its own terms of engagement.
- The Reference Group recognises that older people are a diverse population and their views are not uniform. However, the Group reflects a range of views and is a resource that can offer specialist knowledge, in an advisory capacity, to both the Steering and Working Groups.
- The Reference Group will be a “sounding board” for the Alliance. It provides an opportunity for older people to influence and challenge the Alliance’s priorities and actions.
- The Reference Group also has a role in raising awareness of the Alliance, particularly at a local level. Reference Group members will talk to older people in their areas in order to feed back views to the Alliance Working Groups. It will also provide a means to test Working Groups’ plans with older people.
- The Reference Group will ensure the involvement of older people, or their representatives in the work of the Alliance.
- The Reference Group will consider the ongoing effectiveness of the Alliance’s work, and will have the opportunity to feed into the Alliance Evaluation Group.
- The Reference Group will report their involvement as a group, and the progress of the Alliance, back to their Forums.
Relationship with the Steering Group
The Steering Group will formally receive information and views from the Reference Group as a whole and there will be transparency between the two groups. The Steering Group will ensure that the Reference Group as a whole is kept aware of its activities. To facilitate this, a member of the Steering Group will be invited to attend Reference Group meetings and minutes will be exchanged between the two groups.
The Steering Group will make two places available to the Reference Group at each of its meetings.
Reference Group members attending the Steering Group will state the collective view of Reference Group members. However on issues where there is no collective view, Reference group members will reflect their personal views to the Steering Group.
Relationship with the Working Groups
The Reference Group as a whole will receive feedback from each Working Group. In addition, every Working Group will have at least one place for an English Forum representative from the Reference Group. The member from the English Forum will work alongside other members of the Working Group to help to shape the Group’s plans , including the design of their practical projects, and to develop the shared vision of the Group. Each English Forum will decide which Working Group(s) it wishes to partner, depending on its particular area of interest or expertise.
The Reference Group recognises that there are a range of groups that reflect the views of older people. It may share information with other groups and draw in their particular expertise.
[1] Latest ONS/ GAD projections
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