Chris Pickett has been selected as Melksham’s own Older Persons’ Champion.
Chris, chosen at a recent area board meeting, said, “I see the ‘challenge’ as an important link between the ‘older person’ – and this can be any age, as age can be a matter of one’s mental state – and the powers that be, like Wiltshire Council, the town or parish councils.
“My desire is to work with all partners and those agencies and organisations that support older people and let’s face together the barriers and issues of an ageing society.
“Brian Warwick has been working tirelessly as the Older Person Champion of Wiltshire for some years. However, I will be focussed purely on the Melksham community area.
“It will be my opportunity to put your points to these committee members who are making decisions for you. Some of the decisions will be, once made, quite long-lasting and if they are the wrong ones – and you know that they won’t work – talk this through with Brian or me, so that we can be prepared to put a strong case forward.
“Other areas of care may be in how you feel that you have been treated, perhaps ignored in areas such as health care or on public transport. It is important that as residents of Melksham and the surrounding area, we feel valued as individuals, be pleased to live here and enjoy the environment we live in. It is wrong if we feel frightened to go out, that areas are ‘no go’ for us, that travelling is too difficult or our views are not being heard.
“Brian and I wish to engage with the community of older people so that their views are being heard. By us all working in partnership in Melksham, through the older persons champion linking to the area board, we can achieve a great deal. Brian will continue to promote issues around ageing needs at a county level.
“If you would like to get involved in an activity or are not sure where to turn for something to do, then get in touch. Your ideas are important so if there is an activity that you would like to do and it is not going on at the moment, then we would like to know what it is.
“I can be contacted on: pickettjames02@gmail.com or call 01225 920400. I look forward to hearing from you.
