PAPER 2:2009
OLDER PEOPLE'S CONSULTATIVE FORUM
APPLICATION FROM SCOTTISH SENIORS ALLIANCE FOR MEMBERSHIP
1. The Scottish Seniors Alliance has asked to become a member of the Forum, and this paper seeks the views of members on this request.
Background
2. Ms Agnes McGroarty, Chairperson, Scottish Seniors Alliance (SSA) has written asking that the SSA be added to membership of the Older People's Consultative Forum.
3. The SSA feel that there is not much in the way of representation outside the central belt and suggest that the SSA vice chair, George Paterson, be its representative, which would also give representation from the north. Dr Gurudeo Saluja, who represents Black and Minority Ethnic Elders Group on the Forum, also lives in Aberdeenshire.
4. The SSA was launched in September 2007, and we have the information attached about the forums they invite and the numbers of people attending (Annex A). The SSA does not have a web-site and a Google search reveals the National Pensioners Convention web site and information about a meeting the SSA had with Shona Robison on 26 March 2008.
5. There seem to be a number of links between the SSA and other organisations;
- Agnes McGroarty is the chair of both the West of Scotland Seniors Forum (WSSF) and the SSA. The WSSF also provide secretariat services for the SSA.
- George Henderson, who represents the National Pensioners Convention on the Forum, was part of the SSA's delegation at a meeting with the Minister last year.
Conclusion
6. In the light of this information, do members feel the SSA should be invited to join the Forum?
Older People and Age Team
Scottish Government
March 2009
ANNEX A
Details of Scottish Seniors Alliance Forums and Contacts List
The SSA have 25 forums outwith the west of Scotland. Some of these are small local groups and forums with no contact with larger organisations. It is these types of groups whose voice is never heard that SSA endeavour to provide with information. In the past year they have had 4 meetings, with the following attendance figures. Figures not available for the Perth and Kinross meetings.
| Number of Attendees | Dum & Galloway | Grampian | Isle of Cumbrae | Oban | Perth & Kinross |
March | 45 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
June | 48 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
September | 72 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
December | 27 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
The following is a list of SSA Contacts and the names of groups who receive the SSA minutes.
Contacts | |
Scottish Groups | |
Age Concern Counselling & Advice Service | Highland Senior Citizens' Network |
Age Concern Scotland | Inverclyde Elderly Forum |
Benarty Elderly Forum | Levenmouth Elderly Forum |
Bo'ness Older People's Forum | Markinch Elderly Forum |
Bonnyrigg and Lasswade Seniors Forum | Older People Empowered Now |
Dumfermline Area Elderly Forum | Older Peoples Equalities Forum |
Dumfries & Galloway Elderly Forum | Pat Scrutton |
Dundee Celebrate Age Network | Perth & Kinross Pensioners Forum |
Dundee Pensioners Forum | Renfrewshire Seniors' Forum |
Dunfermline Elderly Forum | Scottish Borders Elder Voice |
East Berwickshire Elderly Forum | Scottish Pensioners Forum |
East Edinburgh Older People's Forum | Scottish Pensions Association |
Fife Elderly Forum | Senior Action Group Edinburgh (SAGE) |
Gilmerton Pensioners Forum | Senior Citizens' Forum (Edinburgh West) |
Gorebridge & District Forum | |
Grampian Senior Citizens' Forum | |
Grampian Seniors Forum | |
WSSF Forums | |
Forum Name | |
Ardrossan Seniors Forum | Jenny's Well Seniors Forum |
Baillieston Elderly Forum | Kenny Smith, Community & Leisure |
Barlanark Seniors Forum | Kilmarnock North Elderly Forum |
Barrhead Seniors Forum | Kilmarnock South Elderly Forum |
Bishopbriggs & District Seniors Forums | Kilwinning Elderly Forum |
Blantyre Seniors Forum | Kyles & District |
Bridge of Weir Seniors Forum | Lanark Seniors Forum |
Busby Seniors Forum | Linwood Seniors Forum |
Calton Seniors Forum | Maryhill Seniors Forum |
Cardonald Seniors Forum | Maybole & District Seniors Forum |
Carfin Seniors Forum | Monklands Seniors Forum |
Carluke Seniors Forum | Motherwell Elderly Forum |
Carmyle Seniors Forum | Muirhead & District Forum |
Castlemilk Elderly Forum | Muirhead & District Seniors Forum |
Clydebank Seniors Forum | Muirkirk Seniors Forum |
Community Learning & Development | Neilston Seniors Forum |
Craigend Elderly Forum | Nitshill Seniors Forum |
Craigneuk Elderly Forum | North Ayr Seniors Forum |
Cumbernauld Seniors Forum | North Mull & Tobermory Seniors Forum |
Cumnock District Seniors Forum | OBAN SF |
Darnley Seniors Forum | P.A.G.E. |
Drumchapel Seniors Forum | PAGOS Elderly Forum |
Dumbarton Seniors Forum | Paisley North End Seniors Forum |
East Kilbride Seniors Forum | Paisley South End Seniors Forum |
Erskine Seniors Forum | Paisley West End Seniors Forum |
Gallowhill Seniors Forum | Partick Seniors Forum |
Garelochhead & District Seniors Forum | Prestwick Elderly Forum |
Girvan Seniors Forum | Royston Elderly Forum |
Glenburn Seniors Forum | Rutherglen Elderly Forum |
Gorbalites | Saltcoats Seniors Forum |
Greater Govan Seniors Forum | South Kintyre Seniors Forum |
Greater Knightswood Elderly Forum | South Mull & Iona Seniors Forum |
Helensburgh S. F. | Stevenston Seniors Forum |
Highland Senior Citizens Network | Thornliebank Seniors Forum |
Holytown Seniors Forum | Tiree Seniors Forum |
Inverclyde Seniors Forum | Troon & District Seniors Forum |
Irvine Seniors Forum | Unison Retired Members |
Irvine Valley Seniors Forum | Vale of Leven Seniors Forum |
Islay & Jura Seniors Forum | Yoker Seniors Forum |
Islay Seniors Forum | |
Isle of Cumbrae Seniors Forum | |