Older people in West Lancashire now have their
own champion
30 September 2009
Councillor May Blake has been appointed
as West Lancashire Borough Council’s first Older People’s
Champion and her role will be to help advise the Council on issues
that support and encourage active, independent and healthy lives
for older people.
She will also work to raise the profile of
older people and their needs in all areas of Council activity.
Cllr Blake said:
“I am honoured to be appointed the first Older
People’s Champion on West Lancs Borough Council. I believe
passionately that this is a hugely important role and it will be my
aim to serve the older people of West Lancs wisely and well. As an
older person myself, I will be particularly keen to promote
positive images in order to combat stereotyping and age
discrimination.”
Some of Cllr Blake’s priorities will include
maintaining links locally with older people’s networks and
preparing an annual programme of work.
The appointment of an Older People’s Champion
follows recommendations from the Audit Commission and will ensure
that older people are always considered in West Lancashire
Council’s activity. Many other councils in the North West have
already made similar appointments and Cllr Blake will represent
West Lancashire at the North West Network of local authority older
people’s champions.
Council Leader, and Chairman of the West
Lancashire Local Strategic Partnership, Ian Grant said:
“Councillor Blake is an active member of the
West Lancashire Older People Partnership Board, which is the Older
People’s thematic group for the Local Strategic Partnership, and
has a keen focus on the broader agenda of change for older people.
I believe her contribution will greatly assist this Council,
particularly given the demographic changes in this area.”
One of the first important days following Cllr
Blake’s appointment was 1 October 2009, UK Older People’s
Day and to mark this Cllr Blake visited a number of
the West Lancashire Borough Council’s sheltered housing
schemes, joining events and talking with residents.
You can find out more about Cllr Blake's
role as Older People's Champion and pictures from Older People’s
Day by visiting the Council’s Older People’s Champion web page
at:
http://www.westlancs.gov.uk/housing/housing_services_for_the_elder/older_peoples_champion.aspx
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