More than 100 people attended the launch of the Torbay Over 50’s Assembly on Saturday in Preston.
Over 50-year-olds from Brixham, Torquay and Paignton gathered to learn more about the Assembly, the first of its kind in Devon and Cornwall and to share concerns about a variety of topics.
TOFA is currently recruiting members for its Assembly Action Group as well as setting up town forums to ensure that the over 50’s have a voice at every level of governance in the bay.
The Assembly which is an Ageing Well Torbay initiative already has seats on the Torbay Health and Wellbeing Forum as well as local NHS committees and bodies and will be adding more over the coming months.
At Preston Baptist Church people were able to share their view about things they feel need improvement on topics such as transport, social inclusion, communication and information, participation and employment, social activity, housing and the environment.
Once up and running the Assembly Action Group will ensure the view of the over 50’s are heard and lobby for changes that will improve the lives of everyone in the bay – young and old alike.
The first members of the Action Group have already been interviewed, and more will follow in the next few weeks, and town forum facilitators will be appointed at the same time.
Sue Mcdermott, Ageing Well Torbay Programme Manager, said: “A lot of hard work has gone into the Assembly over the last year or so by a dedicated working group of over 50-year-olds.
“We have asked the over 50’s what they want, and through the Assembly, the Age-Positive Charter, which has been signed representatives of some of the most influential groups in the bay, and our bid for Age-friendly status, we aim to deliver.
“The Assembly will be a powerful new voice for the over 50’s, which will soon make up more than half of the population of Torbay, but it is not just about the older population, their aspirations will be for the benefit of everyone who lives and works here.”
For more details about TOFA or to get involved, email: ageingwell@torbaycdt.org.uk or call 01803 212638
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