Following Debate of the Age, the Age Concern led comprehensive consultation process throughout England to raise awareness of the ageing population and to consider how policies and provision need to change, the North West responded by forming an Ageing Population Group to commission a major piece of research about demographic change in the North West.
The North West Regional Research Laboratory, based at Lancaster University, produced detailed population projections from 1992 to 2021 and consulted on a broad range of policy areas. Their final research report: An Ageing Population: Impacts for the North West made a number of recommendations which included the development of joint regional action to formulate policies and strategies to address the issues of demographic change.
5050vision membership is comprised of agencies, organisations and interests from across sectors and the entire region that support our core aims and objectives of raising awareness of issues around demographic change and to influence policy and decision makers to focus on the opportunities presented by the over 50s.
Following the development of the Regional Framework for Ageing, 5050vision is in the process of restructuring as it works to achieve identified priorities across a number of policy areas: economic, health & wellbeing, housing and transport. As we develop and implement our new operational plan, we will be inviting organisations to express an interest in becoming forum members.
Susan Hetherington is Executive Assistant to 5050vision. Susan's contact details are susan.hetherington@ageconcernblackburn.co.uk or 01254 266624.
We have recently made 2 appointments to the partnership. Mike Hill was appointed as Executive Chair of 5050vision and took up his post on 13 October 2009. Viv Gee was appointed as Head of 5050vision and took up her post on 1 December 2009.
Mike Hill: Mike had a highly successful career with central Government for over 33 years on Employment, Skills and Business Support at local, regional, and national levels in Cardiff, Newcastle, London, Sheffield and Manchester – having spent the last 18 years here in the Northwest. He joined the Northwest Regional Development Agency in a senior post in 2003 to bring together Business Support and Skills in the Northwest, and retired from this role in September 2009 before taking up the leading role in 5050vision.
Now well into his fifties, Mike says he is “strongly committed to helping resolve the issues faced by an ageing population, and looks forward to the challenge of working with delivery partners and older peoples’ groups across the region over the next 12-18 months”. Mike enjoys playing golf, reading, and foreign travel.
Viv Gee: Viv has spent the last nine and a half years as European Policy Manager for the Northwest Regional Development Agency, working on European policy and funding. Prior to this she worked on skills and employment issues at a local and regional level for jobcentres in the South East of England, and then at South and East Cheshire Training and Enterprise Council, where her involvement with European activity began. A major part of her time over the last four years has been taken up with involvement in the European aspects of the demographic change and ageing agenda. This included speaking on how the North West is tackling the issue at a major European conference in Brussels – Regions For All Ages. She also led the Northwest Regional European Partnership Demographic Change Group. Viv says that she is looking forward to working in partnership with local and regional colleagues on the region’s strategic ageing agenda, to help address the issues raised and find suitable solutions. Viv enjoys reading historical novels, theatre and music, and has recently discovered the gardening bug.
