Wednesday 16 December 2009

Monday 23 November 2009

Age Sector Platform has welcomed the launch of a new, dedicated community safety strategy for older people.  The strategy was launched by the NIO Minister Paul Goggins MP to a packed room of older people in Grosvenor House in Belfast this morning.

Michael Monaghan, spokesperson for Age Sector Platform said:  “Older people have been calling for a dedicated strategy to reduce the level of crime and fear of crime among our older citizens for some time and we are pleased that our voice has now been heard and acted upon.  Older people will be at the heart of this strategy and will have a stronger say on what they require to be safe and feel safe in their home and wider community.”

Wednesday 4 November 2009

Something big is happening and we want you to get involved! From now until January next year, the legislation that will define the powers and duties of the forthcoming Older People’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland is open for public consultation.

This is a crucial stage in the development of an Older People’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland and a valuable opportunity to influence the decision making process that will determine what the Commissioner should be responsible for and what powers they should have to take action.

The ‘We Agree’ campaign is a partnership between Age Sector Platform and Age Concern Help the Aged NI. The main aim of the campaign is to influence the decision making process to ensure that ultimately the role and responsibilities of the Older People’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland will be robust, effective and serve the needs and best interests of older people. 

We are now calling on all individuals and groups to join us and help present a united voice.  Older people and the wider general public need to send out a very clear message to our politicians at this time - we need an independent Commissioner for Northern Ireland with sufficient powers to protect the interests of older people, uphold their rights and act with urgency in cases of need.  

Monday 19 October 2009

The October edition of aspire – Age Sector Platform’s newsletter is now available to view online!

This edition of aspire has been very timely since the consultation regarding the establishment of an older people’s commissioner was launched this month (1 Oct), and will run until January 2010.  See pages 8-9 of the newsletter for details of the age sector’s campaign - ‘We Agree’.  We urge every older person to become involved in this campaign.  It’s up to us to ensure that the commissioner will have the powers to be effective.

Inside this issue of aspire we also have details and photographs from Age Awareness Week 2009, details of an international CAP conference, information on our campaign for the introduction of social tariffs and much more!

To view a digital copy of the newsletter click HERE.  Hard copies will be mailed to members, and other interested bodies/individuals in the coming few weeks.

Thursday 1 October 2009

Responding to the OFMdFM launch of its public consultation on an Older People’s Commissioner, Age Sector Platform and Age Concern Help the Aged NI are urging people of all ages and all walks of life to get involved.

Francis Hughes of Age Sector Platform commented: “A powerful Older People’s Commissioner, will be able to act with urgency and prioritise older people’s issues.  Time is an important factor as older people do not have years to wait for their issues to be discussed, debated and reviewed.  Now is the time for older people to speak up and have their voice heard, so that we get the Commissioner we deserve.”

Anne O’Reilly, Chief Executive of Age Concern Help the Aged NI said: “The appointment of a Commissioner for Older People is an important step and one that will impact on us all – our parents and grandparents will benefit now, and we will all benefit in the future. It is therefore vital that everyone engages in this important consultation to shape the roles and responsibilities of the Commissioner.”

Tuesday 30 September 2009

A new older people’s programme has been aired on Belfast’s local TV Channel NVTV recently, with two Age Sector Platform members having taken part in contributing to its content.

The ‘Give us a Voice’ programme, which was aired on Monday 14 September 2009, took the form of a wide ranging discussion, exploring many issues of importance to the older population.

Joan Cosgrove from Newtownabbey Senior Citizens’ Forum and Frank Robertson from The Friendship Federation shared their stories and views with NVTV volunteer and presenter Jean McIntyre.

If you are an older person and are interested in taking part in future recordings of the ‘Give us a Voice’ programme, please contact Alison McElhinney on 028 9031 2089, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

To view the programme, click HERE.

Tuesday 15 September 2009

Age Sector Platform (ASP) has welcomed announcements made during the last week regarding reductions in gas and electricity prices, but claims that more needs to be done to ensure vulnerable households are protected from hikes in energy costs.

One of the partners involved in the ‘Can’t Heat or Eat’ campaign last winter, ASP represents 200,000 older people across Northern Ireland, and believes social tariffs are needed to reduce the levels of fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

ASP energy spokesperson, Francis Hughes, commented: “Energy issues are high on the agenda for me and many other older people in Northern Ireland.  Last year we witnessed unprecedented increases in energy prices, which was of significant worry to the older population.  Concerns over how to heat our homes have not disappeared - particularly when we are now approaching the winter months yet again.”  

Mr Hughes continued: “A reasonable and possible way of addressing this issue is through the introduction of social tariffs.  Social tariffs are the lowest possible tariffs offered by energy suppliers to vulnerable or low income groups.  They offer protection that is currently unavailable here, although they have been in operation in Great Britain since 2004.  Households in the rest of the UK have also benefited from competition in the energy market since the 1990’s; making domestic energy bills a lot less than here in Northern Ireland.”

Age Awareness Week takes place from Monday 28 September 2009 to Saturday 3 October 2009 with a host of events scheduled to explore issues on ageing in venues across Northern Ireland.  Organised by the Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP), this year’s theme is ‘representation’.  All events celebrate the diversity of older people’s lives and highlight the positive contribution older people make to our society.

The events calendar includes art exhibitions, films, discussions and conferences across Belfast; poetry and storytelling in Portadown; an intergenerational event in Strabane; information events in Ballymoney, Newry and Limavady; and dance and drama in Lisburn, Derry, Omagh, Armagh and Coleraine.

To launch Age Awareness Week, a Drive in Movie (Screening Harold and Maude) organised in conjunction with Jameson Belfast Film Festival will take place at the Kings Hall Complex, Belfast on Monday 28 September at 8pm. Tickets cost £6 (£3 for people over 60) and can be purchased from Jameson Belfast Film Festival on 028 9032 5913 or online at www.belfastfilmfestival.org.

There is something for everyone so visit www.ageawarenessweek.com to

download the programme now and start planning your Age Awareness Week!

Friday 24 June 2009 

Following Age Sector Platform’s campaigning efforts towards the start of this year in the area of community safety, NIO Minister Paul Goggins promised to deliver a strategy specifically for the safety of older people by Autumn 2009. 

Since the Minister’s announcement in May 2009, representatives from Age Sector Platform have been working alongside the Community Safety Unit to help develop the strategy so that its contents meet the needs of older people in Northern Ireland.

A steering group of older people has been established to discuss what should be included in the strategy, with three members of this steering group forming part of the Community Safety Unit’s official strategy development working group.

If you have any personal views on what should be included in the strategy please visit the discussion board in the members’ only section or if you are not a member of Age Sector Platform you can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

This is your strategy…help us make sure it meets your needs!

Thursday 4 June 2009

A powerful campaigning and lobbying force for older people has welcomed groundbreaking research, launched today, which recommends drastic improvements in the area of legal advice for older people in Northern Ireland.

Age Sector Platform; which represents over 200,000 older people from across Northern Ireland, and whose members were involved in contributing to the research, has voiced its concerns with the findings; emphasising the increased need for legal guidance by people in their later years.

Ms Phil Evans, Vice-Chair of Age Sector Platform, commented: “It is unfortunate that many older people are reluctant to seek legal advice due to the unreasonable cost, unnecessary use of complicated language or a general distrust of the legal system.  Older people are often in real need of legal advice when making the most important decisions of their life like drafting a will, organising care arrangements and making health related decisions.  These can be unfamiliar and confusing times for older people and the more support and guidance they receive during these times, the better they will cope.”