I was invited to join Age Scotland last week at their annual conference and awards ceremony. Age Scotland is a charity supporting Scotland’s older people (defined as 50+). Since I’ve been introduced to this amazing charity I’ve been nothing but impressed, but I wasn’t prepared for the emotion of this event. Their annual conference and awards showcases the incredible work this small team does and the vast amount of support it gives to people across the country. It was a real honour to be there.
One of the first people I spoke to at the venue was a colleague from the ‘Helpline’ team at Age Scotland. The team are there, answering questions about all kinds of things, from helping older people navigate the ‘benefits maze’, to social care and housing, to legal issues. They even have a service where they will help older people to fill out applications for benefits - and have started offering this as a multi lingual service in person to some of the most vulnerable communities in Glasgow, with a view to widening this reach, if successful.
After some incredible conversations and perusing some of the huge array of quality information leaflets that Age Scotland have produced on all kinds of topics, it was into the main auditorium to hear the strategy launch for the next 5 years.
Well, this is a charity with huge ambitions - and for good reason. Marketing Manager Camille Craig shared that by 2047 44% of Scotland’s population will be over 50 - and there will be a 25% increase in people over 65. With the need for support for older people growing and essential public services being cut from communities, there is a huge gap that needs to be filled. And Age Scotland is hoping to help to fill it.
The strategy is titled ‘Action for change in older age’, with the goal for the period 2025-2030 being:
‘By the end of this strategy, we will have delivered high-impact services to a quarter of a million people across Scotland, enhancing their quality of life, strengthening their independence and empowering individuals to act.’
It is split into 4 key missions:
‘Improve older people’s financial security and quality of life’
Tackle loneliness and social exclusion
Challenge ageism and promote the value of older people
Build a more effective charity that is fit for the future
This was a fitting start for the workshops and awards that followed.I learned that alongside the helpline and other activities, Age Scotland has a hands on policy and campaigning team, who support and amplify local campaigns which try to influence the decisions of large corporations, or the government. For example, providing contacts and resources to a community in Dumfries and Galloway who were going to feel a massive impact of their last local bank branch closing, or challenging politicians about the lack of a minister for older people in the Scottish Government.
Nothing could have prepared me for the afternoon of awards.
Beyond the reaches of the Age Scotland team is a HUGE network across Scotland doing simply amazing things at a community level. From the most remote communities in Scotland to those in the heart of the biggest cities. Award recipients included a primary school who engages in intergenerational work with a local club for the elderly, doing crafts, games and sharing stories together. Incredible localised services in the remote reaches of Scotland, providing vital care and support that has been taken away by the NHS and other public services. Huge fundraising and campaigning efforts with amazing results.
One of the hardest things to here was, however, just how localised this all is. The term ‘postcode lottery’ was mentioned more than once. The work being done is absolutely vital, but there is still a lot more to do. The stats speak for themselves, the population is getting older - and we need to put the structures in place to support that for everyone, wherever you live.
All of this bring me back round to why creating age inclusive teams in workplaces is so important. We need people to REALLY value each other and not just be waiting for the retirement clock of their older colleagues to run down. I hear a lot of people laugh about that, but it's not far from the truth of a lot of people's behaviours in the workplace.
A lot of initiatives I see to tackle these generational chasms in the workplace simply don't go deep enough, and that's what I'm trying to solve. The Survive/Thrive e-guide will be out soon (sign up here!) and that is a first start to helping people understand how to turn their teams from places where people survive (until retirement, or the next manager, or their next job) into places where people absolutely thrive. You can't do that without contextual learning and reflection.
Sign up for the e-guide, or contact me to see how I can help.
