In March 1998 Age Concern launched Debate of the Age, a comprehensive programme throughout the whole country to raise awareness of the ageing population and consider how policies and provision might need to change. The main themes were Values and Attitudes; Paying for Age; Work and Lifestyles; Built Environment and Transport; Health and Care, and the final reports – both national and regional – were presented towards the end of 1999.
In the North West, hundreds of organisations and businesses together with thousands of people of all ages, participated in a wide range of events over the same period. The Debate of the Age in the North West Final Report contained the region’s responses and made a number of recommendations for further action.
An Ageing Population Group was formed which commissioned a major piece of research to assess the impact of demographic change on life in the North West region. The North West Regional Research Laboratory based at Lancaster University produced detailed population projections from 1996 to 2021and also consulted people across the North West on a range of policy areas. Their 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 which would address the issues.
The region responded to these issues, in part, by establishing 5050vision, which was launched in 2003.
The 5050vision Partnership
Our partnership is defined as the members of 5050vision who have signed up and are actively supporting our priorities and the infrastructure of the partnership itself, sometimes by directly funding it. In addition we have identified many stakeholders, who are defined as bodies or organisations essential tothe delivery of particular components of our work. Stakeholders are not listed here - but both partners and stakeholders are critical to our aims. 5050vision works fundamentally by influencing policy and decision makers and people or agencies active in our fields of interest, to get them to focus on the opportunities presented by the over 50s.
You can view a list of member organisations and interests by simply clicking on the 'Membership' icon on the left side of this page.
Val Michej is the Transitional Adviser, supported by Liz North, Project Manager and Susan Hetherington as PA.
