Age Scotland's 2024 in review
As we approach the end of 2024, I’ve been reflecting on a busy year at Age Scotland. From our campaign to reinstate the Winter Fuel Payment for all pensioners, to new charity partnerships and celebrating our award winners, a lot has happened in the past 12 months.
So ahead of a new year, let’s look back at some of the highlights – and challenges – that shaped 2024.
January: Improving the lives of older people is at the heart of everything Age Scotland does, and in that spirit, we supported the campaign to save the Milan Day Care Centre in East Dunbartonshire, a lifeline for ethnic minority older people, which was under threat of closure. Along with Rohini Sharma Joshi, Age Scotland’s diversity and inclusion manager, I visited the popular centre and attended a protest urging the council to reverse its decision to withdraw funding. Sadly, the centre did close two months later but not before the council agreed to make every effort to support the older members through other organisations.
February: Changes were afoot at Age Scotland with new additions to the charity’s senior management team. I was happy to bring existing colleagues, Adam Stachura and Stacey Kitzinger, on board as assistant directors of policy, communications and external affairs and marketing and fundraising respectively. Together they work to raise the profile of our charity and the work we do for older people.
March: We announced that our expert advisors identified £1,577,341.81 of unclaimed benefits for older people who called our helpline in 2023, more than double the figure for the previous year and a record amount for the charity. It was a remarkable 136% increase on the 2022 figure, but it remains the tip of the iceberg, with millions of pounds unclaimed by older people who are entitled to more support. We will continue to encourage older people to call our free helpline on 0800 12 44 222 to request a benefits’ check, or go online and use our benefits calculator. We want every penny earmarked for older people in need to get into the right hands.
April: In the spring Scotland’s Railway launched a new charity partnership with Age Scotland after staff across ScotRail and Network Rail Scotland chose us to be their nominated charity. Age Scotland topped an internal poll of nominations, which signals the start of a drive to raise money and awareness for the charity over the next three years. You might have seen ScotRail’s festive advert highlighting loneliness among older people at Christmas, featuring our award-winning member group, Golden Friendships.
May: It was eyes down – and lots of laughs – at the relaunch of our hugely popular health and wellbeing activity, Body Boosting Bingo. Older people, service users and facilitators tried out the 2.0 version of the bingo game with a twist where each of the numbers has an associated movement to build strength and balance. The 2024 version of Body Boosting Bingo, with new demonstration videos and inclusive subtitles in Punjabi and Cantonese as well as English, was devised with input from academics to keep the exercises in line with the latest evidence on the best physical activities for older adults.
June: Ahead of the General Election, Age Scotland published new data showing that only 4% of older people feel politicians care about issues affecting them. The survey also highlighted the top three priorities for older people in the General Election were social care, healthcare and pensions, with 96% believing it important that the UK Government keep the Triple Lock on the State Pension.
July: Less than a month after the new Labour government came to power, the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners who do not receive pension credit. Age Scotland urged the UK government to reconsider the move, which would push tens of thousands of low and modest income pensioners further into poverty. It was the start of a powerful campaign to overturn a decision which could have a devastating impact on many pensioners struggling to heat their homes this winter.
August: About Dementia, Age Scotland’s forum dedicated to enhancing the lives of those affected by dementia, announced a new round of funding available to grassroots dementia projects for 2025. Eligible projects were invited to apply for grants of between £5,000 and £20,000 from a pot of £310,000, provided by the Scottish Government. With a focus on projects in rural settings this year, it is hoped the money can address the unique barriers faced by people living with dementia and their unpaid carers.
Also, in August, I faced my fear of heights and took part in a charity zipline fundraiser, whizzing across the Clyde100 feet in the air. I was joined by my 81-year-old Mum, Noreen Fordyce, who proved that age is no obstacle when it comes to tackling daredevil challenges!
September: When our community development officer, Jo Cowan, alerted us to the news that the Moss Park Care Home in Caol, Fort William, was threatened with imminent closure, I wrote to the Highland Council and NHS Highland, urging them to offer a lifeline to the 39 residents and their families. Care home provision is scarce in the Highland town and the only other nursing home in the area was already at capacity, forcing vulnerable older people and their families to look further afield for residential care, including specialist dementia care which is not offered by all care homes. We end the year on a positive note, with the council and health board confirming that they are making progress in talks to secure the purchase of Moss Park, with NHS Highland in place to run the care home.
October: Age Scotland marked the UN Day of Older People with our annual conference and the presentation of the charity’s national awards. Once again, I was blown away by the dedication our six award winners – and the 15 groups and individuals who were highly commended – show to improving the lives of older people across the country, working tirelessly to combat loneliness and isolation, helping to build new friendships and sharing advice and information. It was also a joy to share the event with our host, television presenter and entertainer, Glen Michael.
November: The Scottish Government’s decision to reinstate an energy support payment for all pensioners, including those affected by the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment came as a huge relief for older people. After months of campaigning, petitioning both the UK and the Scottish governments, Age Scotland welcomed the announcement of a universal £100 payment to all pensioners from next year, with those on pension credit maintaining their £200 to £300 support. But we also voiced concerns that £100 won’t be enough for those on low and modest incomes, particularly as there is nothing else for them this winter. We will continue to highlight the alarmingly high levels of fuel poverty in Scotland and urge the government to look at what more they can do to bridge the gap.
December: Analysis of new figures from Age Scotland laid bare the extent of loneliness among older people at Christmas. One third of over 65s said they wouldn’t put up any festive decorations. Around half were hoping to receive a phone call on Christmas Day. Others won’t speak to anyone, and almost 150,000 expected to eat Christmas dinner alone. These annual figures are a stark reminder of why we focus much of our work on tackling loneliness and isolation among older people. It’s an issue which attracts attention at Christmas, when the emphasis is on having fun with family and friends, but at Age Scotland we know it’s a year-round problem, which can have a serious impact on the physical and mental health of older people.
2024 has been a year of ups and downs, celebrations and commiserations. As we look ahead to 2025, I am proud of what we have achieved and more determined than ever to get to work on what needs to be done to make life better for older people.
A Happy New Year to you, when it comes.
