CAP heralds an older, louder, stronger Northern Ireland

Contact: Joanne McKeirnan Help the Aged Northern Ireland Tel: 028 9072 8648Mobile: 07816 317 774Email: joanne.mckeirnan@hta.org.uk For immediate release: 3 October 2006 CAP heralds an older, louder, strongerNorthern Ireland Today (Tuesday 3 October 2006), four major Northern Ireland organisations join forces with the launch of a new partnership at Stormont’s Long Gallery. The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) brings together Age Concern Northern Ireland, Help the Aged, Queen’s University Belfast and the Workers’ Educational Association, and is funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies. CAP’s launch is the headline event during Northern Ireland’s first Age Awareness Week (2 6 October 2006), a week-long calendar of activities designed to raise the voice of older people in Northern Ireland. This year Age Awareness Week is focusing on the important issues of employment, diversity and rights. BBC personality Walter Love is championing the week and hosting the CAP launch. Also speaking at the launch is Joyce Stock who will be able to give her personal perspective. Anne Hope from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; and Annie Campbell from the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland. CAP’s vision is of a strong, informed voice capable of challenging attitudes and approaches to ageing. In the coming years, CAP aims to build a critical mass of older people working in the community to shape and influence issues essential to achieving a better quality of life for our older population. CAP is expected to attract much interest from Northern Ireland’s political parties with the programme aiming to create an environment where politicians are actively listening to the collective voice of older people. CAP is a five-year programme with each of the four CAP partners leading on a separate strand of work: Age Concern Northern Ireland is focussing on equality and policy development. Help the Aged is capacity building within Northern Ireland’s age sector and will be communicating CAP’s vision and activities. Queen’s University Belfast is building research and policy evidence. Workers’ Educational Association is delivering advocacy skills training to older people. Commenting on his involvement in the CAP launch, Walter Love said: Older people are a vital part of the fabric of our society. I applaud the Changing Ageing Partnership and Age Awareness Week for bringing the voice of the older population so powerfully to the forefront of the Northern Ireland agenda and look forward to seeing how the partnership’s work progresses over the coming years. There are immeasurable benefits to be had from strong partnership working, and CAP brings together four great organisations. But CAP also has a fifth partner the older people of Northern Ireland. There is already a vibrant age sector in Northern Ireland and a wealth of passionate and enthusiastic older people working and campaigning for the good of their generation. The beauty of CAP is that it will direct skills, time and resources into channelling that passion and raising that voice to have even greater impact. – Ends – Notes to Editor 1.The Changing Ageing Partnership Launch is taking place at the Long Gallery, Stormont, Belfaston Tuesday 3 October 2006 at 11.00 14.00 (registration at 11.00). To attend please contact Joanne McKeirnan Tel: 028 9072 8648 Email: joanne.mckeirnan@helptheaged.co.uk 2.Northern Ireland politicians and older people will be welcoming CAP and a photo opportunity will be happening at Stormont. Contact Joanne McKeirnan Tel: 028 9072 8648 Email: joanne.mckeirnan@helptheaged.co.uk 3.The Changing Ageing Partnership is being launched during Northern Ireland’s first Age Awareness Week (2 6 October 2006). Age Awareness Week is a week of events designed to empower older people and to raise awareness about growing older in Northern Ireland. There are a number of events taking place during Age Awareness Week. Event Date Venue Contact Changing Ageing Partnership Launch 3 October 06 11.00 – 14.00 Long Gallery, Stormont Contact Joanne McKeirnan 02890 728 648 or Claire Killen 02890 245 729 Age Equality Panel Discussion (Age Concern) 4 October 06 10.30 – 14.00 Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast Contact James Knox 02890 245 729 Celebrate Age (Help the Aged) 5 October 06 10.30 – 13.30 Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast Contact Joanne McKeirnan 02890 728 648 Intergenerational Event (Age Concern) 6 October 06 11.00 – 14.00 Clifton House, Belfast Contact David McConnell 02890 245 729