A new panel has been set up to champion the voices of older people from across Greater Manchester in key decisions on policies and services.
The Greater Manchester Older People’s Equality Panel, announced on the eve of the International Day of Older Persons on 1 October, will work closely with the Greater Manchester Ageing Hub at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
Made up of members from across the city-region, the panel will represent the voices and experiences of older people, and provide opportunities for influencing decision-making and policy development.
Cllr Amanda Chadderton, GMCA Lead for Equalities, Inclusion and Cohesion, said:
The Greater Manchester Older People’s Equality Panel will provide a crucial platform for the voices of older people to be heard and taken into account when important decisions are made.
The lives, experiences, and needs of older people are as diverse as any group in society, and we have to recognise that when designing the services and the policies. With representatives from across the city-region on the panel, we hope to get as broad a picture as possible of what our older residents want, as we continue working to ensure that Greater Manchester is the best place to get on and grow old.
Jan Kitching, interim Chair of the Older People’s Equality Panel, said:
The challenges faced by our older residents over the last few years have highlighted the inequalities in our city-region. There is much work to be done and the Older People’s Equality Panel will be playing a vital role to make sure older people’s voices are included in the development of policies and decision-making process.
We’re keen to focus on the big issues older people are facing and right now that is the cost of living crisis. The panel will work with existing networks to advise on and challenge how change happens.
I am incredibly proud to be part of this process and hope that we can continue to make a difference in our city-region.
