Over 100 delegates at the Wandsworth Older People's Forum conference raised the idea of an Age Friendly Borough. What was said, and what happens next.
Well over 100 people spent Tuesday 13 October at St Peter’s Church in Battersea talking about how Wandsworth could become a better place to grow older, and one idea came out of the day with the most weight behind it: that Wandsworth could become an Age Friendly Borough.
It is only an idea for now. Wandsworth Older People’s Forum, which ran the annual conference, says the conversation “is at an early stage and no proposal has yet been agreed”. The forum describes it as one of the areas for further discussion, which would bring older people, Wandsworth Council, Age UK and other local organisations together to work out what it could mean for the borough.
Who was in the room
The conference, titled The Future of Healthy Ageing: Voices, Partnership and Action, was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Wandsworth, Cllr Kirsten Botting. Robert Morritt, Leader of Wandsworth Council, also joined delegates and spoke about some of the issues facing the borough and its residents, the forum says.
Speakers and panellists came from research, health, adult social care, public health, local government and the voluntary sector. They included Jeremy DeSouza, the council’s Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Public Health, with representatives of the NHS, Age UK and other local organisations.
The afternoon was handed to older people themselves. A panel discussion let delegates put questions directly to local organisations and decision-makers and raise the issues that mattered to them. Delegates could also meet local organisations through the day, find out about services and activities for older residents and make new contacts.
“Being heard is only the start”
Syeda Islam MBE, who chairs the forum, said:
“It was wonderful to see well over 100 people come together for the conference and to hear so many different voices throughout the day.
“What made the day special was not simply the quality of our speakers and panellists, but the willingness of people to listen to one another and talk honestly about what would make Wandsworth a better place in which to grow older.
“Our theme was Voices, Partnership and Action. Older people must have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect their lives, but being heard is only the start. Our job now is to build on the partnerships strengthened through the conference and turn those conversations into practical action.”
The forum’s conference programme set out four themes: Stronger Voices, making sure older people are heard and included in decisions that affect their lives; Better Partnerships, between residents, community organisations and services; Positive Action, turning conversations and ideas into meaningful improvements; and Better Lives for All, supporting healthy ageing, wellbeing, inclusion and stronger communities across the borough. The day ran from 10am to 4pm at the church on Plough Road, on the Winstanley Estate, and the forum’s flyer lists the Richmond and Wandsworth Better Service Partnership, Richmond Council and Wandsworth Council as supporters.
What happens next
The forum says it will now work through the ideas, questions and feedback raised on the day and consider which practical actions can be taken forward with partners. The Age Friendly Borough question is one of those: nothing has been decided, and any proposal would need the council, Age UK and other organisations to agree to explore it with older residents.
What it means for you
- If you are an older resident with a view on what would make Wandsworth easier to grow old in, the forum exists to carry those views to the council and health services. It says its job is to make sure “the voices, views and experiences of older people in Wandsworth are heard and reflected in decisions affecting their lives”. Contact it at info@wopf.org.uk or through wopf.org.uk.
- The same church hosts free help next week. Age UK Wandsworth’s digital roadshow for over-50s and unpaid carers is at St Peter’s, 23 Plough Road, on Wednesday 21 October, 10am to 3pm.
Have your say