Wokingham Older People's Forum

Wokingham Unitary and the Primary Care Trust are setting up an Older People's Forum in the district. The overall aims are to raise the profile of older people and their perspective, enable them to lead active and fulfilling lives, and support them in maintaining their independence in later years, writes co-ordinator Marianne Abery.

The forum will link individuals, existing groups and services to create a growing network through which older people will receive and can request information and be directed to resources. There will be opportunities to meet the council and its partners to discuss issues, ask questions and make suggestions. Through the forum, older people can be directly involved in the decision making on their services and be a source of information and opinions for the Champion for Older People, Councillor Bob Wyatt.

The forum is compiling a database of groups, clubs and activities for older people in the district. If you run a club or group please get in touch and give us details including the name of the group, days, times and the address of meetings, plus a contact name and number so it can be included in the database.

If you're aged 50 plus, whether you're working or retired, or if older people's issues are relevant to you, for example as a carer, we'd like to hear from you. The forum already has a newsletter and a programme of events is being drawn up. If you would like to know more, or get your club included, just get in touch with me: Marianne Abery, Older People's Forum Co-ordinator, 0118 974 xxxx or e-mail