Older People's Champions to be appointed across Scotland

SOPA are calling on all of Scotland’s 32 local authorities to create the role to ensure that older people’s voices are heard, their interests catered for and their concerns addressed.

Nine local authorities have already appointed a councillor to the apolitical role but the Age Scotland and SOPA campaign aims to build a network of champions to represent older people’s views and identify issues that affect older people locally.

An Older People’s Champion would also be involved in communicating council policies that impact older people, including transport, social care, public toilets and community services.

Diana Findley, chairperson of SOPA said:

“We in SOPA are very pleased to be working in partnership with Age Scotland, firstly to applaud the local authorities who have already appointed an Older People’s Champion but also to encourage the others to see the value of such a role and follow suit.

“This is an important ambassadorial role and if all local authorities appointed one of their councillors in such a role it would ensure that older people’s perspectives would be raised in all matters discussed in council.

“Such a network of Older People’s Champions would give older people a stronger voice but also be a space to share knowledge to assist each of the champions in their role.”

How to Get Involved:

Sign our Petition
Share our Campaign
Write to your Council Leader

Find out more about about our Older People’s Champions campaign here