Cross Party Group on Intergenerational Solidarity

05 June 2023 – 11:00 – 12:30pm on Microsoft Teams

 

Attendees

·         Delyth Jewell MS, Chair, Senedd Cymru

·         Rachel Bowen, Older People’s Commissioner for Wales

·         Dewi John, Older People's Commissioner for Wales

·         Dave McKinney, Older People's Commissioner for Wales

·         Catrin Hedd Jones, Bangor University

·         Chris Thomas, COPA

·         Dereck Roberts, NPC Wales

·         Heather Ferguson, Age Cymru

·         Rhian Angharad Morgan, Age Cymru

·         Hillary Edwards, Repair Café Wales

·         Tim Crahart, Shared Lives Plus

·         Carol Maddock, Swansea University

·         Sharon Ford, National Museums Wales

·         Carole Phillips, Kidscape

·         Ellis Peares, WYP

·         Liz Jones, Swansea University

·         Rhun Dafydd, Lottery Community Fund

·         Mirain Llwyd Roberts, Gwynedd Council

·         Mari-Clare Hunter, ENRICH Cymru Advisory Board

Apologies

·         Orla Tarn, NUS Cymru

·         Peredur Owen Griffiths MS, Senedd Cymru

·         Molly Gray, Nuffield Health

·         Dan Steer, Nuffield Health

·         Alan Hatton-Yeo, Beth-Johnson-Foundation

·         Ceri Cryer, Age Cymru

Actions

1.    Dewi John to email members to ask them for a list of speakers and discussion points for future themed meetings.

2.    Dewi John and Rachel Bowen to create a forward workplan for the CPG on the agreed themes.

3.    Members to email Dewi John speakers and policy ideas on the specific themes to Dewi John for the topic specific meeting.

 

 

Welcome and Introductions

Delyth Jewell MS opened the meeting and explained that the main focus was the purpose of the group going forward and establishing a forward work plan.

Minutes of last meeting

The minutes from the previous meeting were noted and agreed. Members agreed. Heather Ferguson noted that since the last meeting that she has taken over as chair for the Falls Prevention group and invited members to get in contact.

Matters Arising – Discussion Space

Members shared updates:

Liz Jones - the Troedrhiwfuwch project is coming to an end and the garden has been restored with the new mural being installed. She invited Delyth Jewell and members to attend the opening on 6th July at 3:30pm. To give a brief overview of the project, she explained that the whole village was subject to a compulsory purchase order in 1985-6 because of the surveys of coal tips after the Aberfan disaster and that the garden was to commemorate the history of the village.

Dereck Roberts explained that NPC Wales has had its AGM and all members were re-elected. The NPC Wales will be focusing on access to healthcare, end-of-life care and care and repair services. In addition to this NPC and NPC Wales will be producing a pensioner’s manifesto for the 2024 general election.

Deb Morgan said that she has been working on a project looking at digital technology and older people’s needs, which is launching later this year. Carol Maddock has been working with care homes, and youth groups to make an intergenerational comic book on climate change.

Delyth Jewell congratulated Carol on the creation of the comic book and invited Carol to present it to the group. She also invited Ellis Peares to work with Deb on the comic book. (d.j.morgan@swansea.ac.uk)

Cartin Hedd Jones shared a talk that CADR hosted on bringing generations together.

Dave McKinney gave an update on what the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales has been doing on age-friendly communities. Dave explained that more local authorities (Flintshire and Isle of Anglesey) are joining the WHO’s Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities. He also added that the Commissioner’s office will be publishing work on public toilets this summer.

Tim Crahart said that since the last meeting Homeshare UK have organised an event to promote Homeshare UK’s pilots in Gwynedd and Swansea. Event links:

·         Rydych yn adnabod rhywun sydd angen clywed am Homeshare yng Nghymru . Tickets, Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 12:00 | Eventbrite

·         You already know someone who needs to hear about Homeshare in Wales Tickets, Wed 14 Jun 2023 at 12:00 | Eventbrite

Heather Ferguson highlighted Age Cymru’s work on blue badges which connects to digital exclusion and access to services.Delyth Jewell commented that this has been a common theme of members updates that technology is leading to a gap between people who use technology and those who don’t, which is growing as society progresses forward and recommended that this can be a strand of the forward workplan.

Chris Thomas explained that COPA is also looking at digital exclusion as part of its work plan.

Ellis Peares explained he is going to table a 90-second statement on access to defibrillators as a joint meeting of the Senedd and Welsh Parliament after working with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS and Mabon ap Gwynfor MS.

It was important to expand provision because many people have hidden reasons why they might need a defibrillator.

Cartin Hedd Jones shared a link to help with Ellis’ statement. Heather offered Age Cymru’s support. She also raised concerns about language: many over 50s are not feeling represented and they have internalised the negative language used during the pandemic like being described as a burden.  The issue of language was discussed.

Post-pandemic priorities and purpose of the group

Delyth Jewell explained that since the group was established during the pandemic, priorities have changed. She suggested it would be a good opportunity to set a forward work plan for the group and opened the item for members to discuss what themes they wanted to focus on. The four themes that the group agreed to focus on were:

·         Social and Civic Inclusion.

·         Ageism/Ageism in the media.

·         Climate Change.

·         Cymraeg 2050 offer for older generations.

Delyth explained that during the last meeting that members had mentioned the rise of ageism in the media and the rise of unpleasant narratives. Members agreed that they wanted to examine this issue. Heather highlighted that ageist narratives can be applied to younger people too.

Deb noted the Telegraph’s article on calculating how much of people’s salaries funded benefits as an example of sowing intergenerational animosity. Deb agreed and explained that this language has led to real life consequences.

Cartin Hedd Jones shared a link on the importance of older people’s contribution to the Welsh economy.

The group discussed ageism in the media and entertainment industry.

Dereck had recently made a complaint to the BBC over their coverage of the pension and triple lock where they used language which suggested that older people were stealing money from the younger generations.

Members were asked to send Dewi John suggestions for discussion points and speakers for the themes the group had agreed.

Heather Ferguson suggested that the group should look at buses: access to buses is becoming more problematic and it threatens older people’s access to social activities and healthcare appointments. Delyth Jewell added that the issue of access to services is important and links with digital exclusion.  She suggested that as a thread.

Marie-Clare suggested that Cymraeg 2050 should be theme: there is an offer for younger people but not older people. Delyth and members agreed.

Sharon Ford said during our Museums Inspiring Memories consultations, a recurring theme has been accessible community transport - or the lack of it. Many people have the desire to visit museums, but they are not always easy to access. She also explained that Voluntary Emergency Service Transport (VEST) in Cardiff for example is fully booked until November. This is proving a massive barrier to engagement.

Delyth suggested that the group focus on access to services as part of social and civic exclusion.  She linked this to climate change as a lack of public transport would lead to more cars. She then asked the group if they wanted to add climate change as a strand. Members agreed.

Rachel Bowen recapped what the group agreed and said that she will work with Dewi John to create a forward work plan for group to be agreed by members.

 

Nuffield Health – Presentation on Council on Bioethics Healthy Ageing Project

Item held over to the next meeting.

Any other business

Delyth Jewell asked members if they had any other items to discuss. Catrin Hedd Jones about the letter to the Deputy Minister for Social Services. No contributions or suggestions for the letter had been received. Delyth agreed to allot 15 minutes to revisit this at the next meeting.

Close and Date of Next Meeting

Delyth Jewell thanked members for their contributions. The next meeting will be on X on Microsoft Teams.