Our History
In order to promote and extend the “Debate of the Age”, Age Concern Gloucestershire arranged a series of public debates in 1999. These debates involved older people, statutory and voluntary agencies, councillors and M P’s.
The concerns and aspirations of older people were collated and the report “The Debate of the Age – The View from Gloucestershire” was launched 11th January 2000. Common concerns that participants wanted an Assembly to address were : -
- Access to health and social care
- Poverty and pension levels
- Employment
- Lifelong Housing or access to appropriate housing when needed
- Transport
A Clear Message
But the clearest message of all was that older people felt that they needed a strong collective voice to speak on their behalf. The concept of an Older Persons' Assembly received widespread support.
- A Facilitator to the Assembly was appointed and started work on 18th July 2000.
- The organisation was officially launched at the Conference “Inspirations- Creative future for Older People”, 20th & 21st November 2000,at the Cheltenham Racecourse.
Management Committee (formally the Steering Group).
The Management Committee felt that older people had become the majority group in society, currently greater than 20% of the Gloucestershire population, and believed that there were a growing number of particularly frail and vulnerable people in this age group who were in no position to speak up on their plight and appeared to have no-one advocating on their behalf.
These were people in need of community care services.
We have two older person representatives from, Cheltenham, Tewkesbury, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and from the Cotswolds; however committed volunteers are always welcome. Many representatives are involved with other organisations that support older people, i.e. Pensioners Forum, The Forest of Dean Health Forum and Gloucestershire Carers.
We also have a member from Cotswold District Council (Housing).
Key Milestones
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This section is currently being up dated.