Age Scotland congratulates Falkirk's first Older People's Champion
Age Scotland has welcomed Falkirk Council’s decision to appoint Councillor Dennis Goldie as its first ever Older People’s Champion, saying he will ensure older people have a strong voice in the community.
Cllr Goldie was elected to the new, unpaid role at a meeting last week.
His appointment follows a campaign by Age Scotland and the Scottish Older People’s Association (SOPA) to create a nationwide network of Older People’s Champions - councillors who act as a link between the council and older people in the local area.
With an ageing population in Falkirk and the surrounding area, Age Scotland said that there has never been a greater need for a strong voice to stand up for local older people. The role involves identifying issues affecting them and standing up for their interests.
Cllr Goldie joins nine other similar Champions across Scotland. West Lothian Council has also agreed to create the new role, and will appoint a councillor at its next meeting.
Cllr Goldie said: "I'm very pleased to have been elected as Falkirk's first Older People's Champion, and I've been delighted by the response on the street. I know there's a lot of work to do, but there are also a lot of people I'll be able to work with to reach our goal of making things better for senior citizens in our community.
"There is a need for greater awareness of the needs of older people, and I want to reach those who are under the radar. I'll be going out to meet as many groups and people as possible, and looking at positive steps to improve their quality of life."
He said accessible housing, shopping and leisure facilities, and access to IT and training were some of the first issues he would be looking at.
Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Falkirk Council has decided to create this new role, and would like to congratulate Cllr Goldie and wish him the best of luck. I’m sure that he will make a real difference to the lives of older people in Falkirk, standing up for their interests and ensuring their voices are heard.
“There’s never been a greater need to ensure older people can play a full part in our communities. The impact of Covid-19 on older people has highlighted the need for this role, with many struggling to cope with record levels of loneliness and isolation.
“As we look ahead to a recovery, it’s vital to ensure that those affected most are not forgotten about or excluded from local democracy.
“Across Scotland, Champions have already played a key role in pushing for improvements, from better public transport and toilet provision to supporting community groups and activities. I’ve no doubt that Cllr Goldie will have a similar success in making Falkirk a better place for all older people.”
Caroline Clark, Co-ordinator of SOPA, added: "It's great to see that Falkirk have responded to the Age Scotland/SOPA campaign by appointing an Older People's Champion. It shows that the voices of older people are valued and we encourage all local authorities to show the same commitment."
