A QUARTER of the population may soon welcome having an Older People’s Commissioner for Scotland.
Together with Independent Age, over 30 organisations, including u3a,, are supporting this call for a new Scottish commissioner, in line with Wales and Northern Ireland.
This new role, which the Scottish Government has the power to create, can focus on health, economic, housing and social wellbeing needs specific to those aged over 65.
If the campaign launched today proves successful, an Older People’s Commissioner will push for a strategic approach when planning and delivering help to one in four Scots.
Census data confirms Scotland has an ageing population.
Scottish u3a trustee, Liz Ervine, remarked: “Having an independent champion for older people in Scotland will ensure the experiences and issues people may face in later life are heard. A commissioner will be able to act in the best interests of over a million people.
“Being retired can be a time of growth and taking up new interests. However, the cost of living crisis is hard on all age groups just now, and especially for those living on the bread line. U3a supports this consensus statement, and with a new Commissioner, Scotland can become the best place in the world to grow old.”
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Notes for editors:
- Scotland has 54 community u3as with around 12,000 members who form part of a UK-wide and international educational movement (https://u3asites.org.uk/scotland/home). Local volunteers lead these self-help learning co-operatives for people no longer in full-time work or who are unable to work.The u3a motto is ‘Learn, laugh, live’. There are more than 1,000 u3as in the UK. Full details at https://www.u3a.org.uk/
- The consensus statement is available from Independent Age. EMail Debbie Horne, Independent Age Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager T 0141 406 8746 E horne@independentage.org. For more u3a info, please contact PR advisor, Allana Parker:: pr.advisor.scotland@gmail.com or call M: 07483 820027.
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u3a in Scotland contact details…
Contact: Allana Parker
Phone: 07483820027
Email: pr.advisor.scotland@gmail.com
Website: http://www.u3asites.org.uk/scotland/page/72957
