The House of Lords was the setting for the launch of a major new report on the key issues affecting the lives of older people – a report in which seniors from Melksham played a key role.
The “Mature Conversations on Ageing” report was based on eight pieces of research undertaken up and down the country, looking variously at social care, housing, digital technology and employment in later life.
Part of that research took place in Melksham earlier this year, when a group of representatives from the Melksham area talked about employment and retirement at a meeting organised by Melksham’s Brian Warwick and led by older people’s campaigner Tony Watts OBE.
At the Melksham meeting, the group identified key ways in which employers can retain the skills and knowledge of older people for longer – by imaginatively tackling the challenges that many face… such as increased caring responsibilities, poor health, ageist recruitment policies and punitive tax policies.
Addressing the meeting at the House of Lords, Brian Warwick said, “The country is at a major crossroads, with many employers facing skills shortages, while more and more older people either need to remain in work because of poor pension provision, or would like to stay on in order to remain socially and mentally active. In particular, the very rapid changes in the state pension age for women means that many face financial insecurity or even poverty.
“The aim of the research was to tap into the knowledge and lived experiences of older people to identify ways to help older people stay in the workplace – benefiting themselves, employers and the economy.”
Tony Watts OBE, who was also present at the House of Lords, added, “The report was extremely well received because it was based on what older people themselves feel about this issue – not what government bodies or think tanks assume they do. It will help us put pressure on the Government and industry to change the culture of the workplace, to bring in the changes needed to embrace and nurture more older workers – such as greater flexibility, retraining opportunities, financial advice and career restructuring. I want to say a huge ‘thank you’ to those who came along that day to the Melksham meeting to add their voices.”
Brian Warwick added, “Older people in this country have long faced an uphill battle to have their voices heard on the issues that affect their daily lives. This report can help play a key role in that – and demonstrate that campaigning and speaking out on issues that really matter can eventually lead to positive change.”
