The Scottish Government

Paper 3:2008

NATIONAL FORUM ON AGEING

NATIONAL FORUM ON AGEING FUTURES GROUP

1. Proposals for a National Forum on Ageing Futures Group have been prepared by a number of organisations, some of which were involved in the work that led up to All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population.

2. The proposals are set out in the attached paper, which also details (first page) the bodies involved.

3. The Futures Group proposes:

· dynamic and pro-active think-tank type work, which engages in imaginative forward thinking, planning for and developing a future which sets Scotland firmly at the fore-front of the age agenda

· a focus on keeping the thinking live, forward planning and developing a vision for the future

· a group that harnesses the skills and knowledge of its members and has a practical focus.

The way they plan to this is set out in the paper.

4. The Minister met some members of the Group, at their request, on 24 June to discuss the proposal. The Minister sought clarification of how the Futures Group will work in practice, what it will deliver, and how it would feed into the policy process. These points are reflected in the paper attached.

5. As with all requests for new grant funding, we will be considering the bid for funding alongside other competing demands. Applications for grant funding are considered through our established grant process under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968. Applications have to be submitted by end September.

• Members are invited to note the attached proposal, and that it will be the subject of a grant application by end September for consideration by the Scottish Government.

Older People and Age Team

Scottish Government

September 2008

PROPOSAL TO:

The Scottish Government

FOR:

A 'National Forum on Ageing Futures Group', a proactive think tank which will engage in forward thinking, planning and the development of a future to set Scotland firmly at the forefront of the age agenda.

Submitted by:

Bryan Bannerman NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde

Linda Boyes Scottish Council Foundation

Yvonne Coull Centre for the Older Person's Agenda, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh

Brid Cullen CSV - Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme

Angela Fowlis Scottish Pre-Retirement Council

Lesley Hart University of Strathclyde Centre for Lifelong Learning

Helen Munro Stirling Volunteer Centre

Helen Quigley CSV - Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme

Pat Scrutton Better Government for Older People

August 2008

1. Introduction

1.1. This proposal is submitted by a group of professionals and volunteers (including three retirees) from a range of organisations specialising in older people's issues who are committed to the Scottish Government's strategy on older people contained in 'All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population' (Ref. 1). Three of the group were members of the external stakeholder group which helped to guide the development of the strategy. All are well networked throughout Scotland, both geographically and thematically.

1.2. 'All our Futures' contains both the strategy and plans for a National Forum on Ageing (NFA) charged with its implementation and development. Members are currently being invited to join the Forum's Implementation Group, with an inaugural meeting planned for September 2008.

1.3. We see the NFA as a dynamic and pro-active group which not only deals with current issues but also engages in imaginative forward thinking, planning for a future which sets Scotland firmly at the fore-front of the age agenda. To assist in this process we propose the formation of a 'Futures Group' based within these founding organisations. This group would continue the forward thinking that underpins the strategy, stimulate new ideas and reflect the very wide constituency that is Scotland's 50+ population.

1.4. The work of the Implementation and Futures Groups would complement each other, forming part of an overarching NFA which would thus have a number of sources and organisations on which it could draw to inform policy and implement strategy. An overall view of our vision is given in Appendix One.

2. Context

2.1. "All Our Futures" accurately identified the main ageing issues in 2007 but there is a need to continue to address the topic in years to come - as Scotland's Futures Forum stressed in their futures view on positive ageing, 'Growing Older and Wiser Together' (Ref. 2). It is this lead we wish to follow. No-one can foretell future concerns, but flexibility of approach, openness to new ideas and willingness to think beyond the traditional core themes of housing, health, care and transport are important.

2.2. The Older People's Consultative Forum (OPCF) provides a place where representatives of older people's organisations can meet directly with relevant ministers. We feel it important that, in addition, there should be a way for the NFA to source information and get ideas directly from the grass roots level, particularly from pre-retirees and those whose concerns are not mainstream. The Futures Group would hold seminars and workshops to provide a means whereby older people and others could not only raise current concerns but also air their own ideas about the society in which they wish to live.

2.3. We feel it is important that the NFA takes account of the huge variety of needs and interests of the entire 50+ age group. This age group is not a homogeneous one but, in practice, represents nearly half (48%) of the adult population of Scotland (RGS Population Projections, 2006).

It covers five decades, at least three generations and several distinct stages in life i.e.:

· Older workers: people aged 50+ who are still in work but may be planning to retire

· Active Retirement: this is the fastest growing segment of the 50+ population and contains people who are active in a whole range of areas

· Decreasing Independence: at this stage appropriate and easily accessed support is vital.

However, each of these groups has quite distinct needs and interests and all need to be heard if the NFA is to truly fulfil its function.

2.4. In her meeting with Older People's Organisations in August 2007 (Ref. 3), the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing gave her vision of the NFA as:

"a group that would harness the skills and knowledge of its members and have a practical focus" and "could have small short life working groups to focus on particular issues".

We think the planned Futures Group fits well within this model.

2.5. The Group, as proposed, would complement the organisations on the NFA Implementation Group and provide a means for the NFA to engage directly with local communities. There should be clear and swift communication lines between all groups facilitated by relevant civil servants and core members. A diagrammatic representation of how the Futures Group would contribute to the existing strategic groups and consultative committees is attached in Appendix Two.

3. Aims

The Futures Group would aim to:

3.1. Stimulate, encourage and produce new ideas on ageing policy, planning and practice across all sectors to the benefit of government through innovative and imaginative policy formation and planning.

3.2. Create a uniquely Scottish approach to ageing that is positive and addresses particular issues in Scotland. Issues can be discussed as they arise and the solutions created will have come primarily from older people themselves.

3.3. Achieve a positive legacy for the skills and talents of older people by ensuring intergenerational activity at all levels, collaborating with the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice.

3.4. Assist in creating policy at a national level while providing a route that older people can clearly see leads to a national level of engagement through promotion of the NFA itself.

3.5. Involve older people themselves at all times and ensure that the views of all sections of the older population are heard.

4. Composition of the Group

4.1. Activities will be led and co-ordinated by a small core group, consisting of the authors of this paper, and based in one of their organisations. The group will act as an advisory group to the NFA. Civil Service membership of this advisory group is anticipated.

4.2. A number of short-life working groups will provide elasticity, with a different composition for planning around various topics underpinned by the core group as described above.

4.3. The group will liaise with and co-ordinate activities through the bodies mentioned above. It will also link with other organisations in relevant sectors such as age, employment, environment, equalities, health, creativity, etc. Contacts will be made with local older people's forums, Community Health Partnerships, church networks, care homes and lunch clubs to encourage participation from all age groups within the older population and from those whose voices are seldom heard.

5. Proposed Activities

5.1. A series of seminars will be organised by the group under the auspices of the NFA. It is planned to run a total of nine or ten events over a three year period. The seminars will be clearly branded as part of the NFA 's activities with input from the NFA where appropriate.

5.2. Events will be across Scotland, using local venues where older people meet and talk.

5.3. Participants will be a mix of older people, from all of the stages identified in section 2.3, together with representatives of voluntary/public/private sector organisations. Every effort will be made to include seldom heard groups.

5.4. A range of marketing tools, including paper-based publicity flyers, will be produced for the seminars and local distribution organised to ensure as wide a range of people as possible is contacted. Care will be taken to include libraries (older people are significant users of public libraries) and other places used by older people.

5.5. It is proposed that the seminar/workshop series be developed through the on-going activities of the organisations mentioned above and other older people. They would be participative and used for gathering views and opinions, for consultation and to provide an opportunity for "blue sky thinking" on the part of the participants. Feedback from the meetings would form the basis for a constantly evolving, proactive programme.

5.6. Examples of topics that have already been suggested include:

a. Creativity: crafts, music, art. Preserving traditional skills and experimenting with the new.

b. Learning: individual 'use it or lose it', skills training, community learning.

c. Enterprise: social enterprise, innovative practice.

d. Heritage: tourism related activities, family history, the Scottish diaspora.

e. Environment: protecting the present and ensuring the future.

f. Sport: participation, legacy skills (coaching, governing).

g. Volunteering: civic engagement, intergenerational activities.

h. I.T: current innovative developments, intergenerational communication.

i. Mental Wellbeing: current research, examples of good practice.

j. Health: adding life to years, gerontology.

k. Care: innovations, community self-help.

l. International Work: current links with other countries, a showcase for Scotland.

5.7. Seminars would follow a generally similar format - a possible plan is given in Appendix Three.

5.8. Where possible, events will be timed to take place before NFA Implementation Group meetings. Feedback will then be given to the NFA to enable members to identify important issues and move the agenda forward.

6. Reporting and Dissemination

6.1. It is proposed that local dissemination of the outcomes of individual events should be by means of press releases and other means known to be locally effective.

6.2. A dissemination and publicity database would be established from the existing NFA database, other relevant databases of Scottish Government civil servants and the individual databases of Futures Group members' organisations. This would be used to gather topics for seminars and discussion and publicise events nationally.

6.3. In addition to reports to NFA meetings, dissemination would be aided by the creation of Futures Group web pages as a sub-section of the NFA web-site. Wider discussion of the issues raised would come from the establishment of an on-line interactive Discussion Group

6.4. Information derived from, and ideas generated by, seminar participants will be collated and analysed to form the basis of a series of policy papers which will be used to inform policy and decision makers in central and local government. These will also provide a valuable reference point for any future reviews of the "All Our Futures" strategy.

7. Outcomes

7.1. Significant outcomes would include:

a. Feedback and development of new ideas for local and national government through the NFA.

b. A role for older people in the civic agenda, ensuring that older people whose voices are seldom heard are fully and actively engaged in decision making and in influencing Scottish Government policy.

c. Dissemination of current thinking and good practice identified in seminars to a wide variety of 'constituencies' throughout Scotland, both individual and organisational

d. A channel for public, private and voluntary sector organisations to hear older people's views on the issues that affect them relating to Scotland's ageing population and to take appropriate action in terms of policy and practice.

e. A means of keeping Scotland's unique identity alive by celebrating the legacy of skills of Scotland's older people in areas like crafts and music.

f. Celebration of the skills and talents of older people, thereby giving the NFA a positive focus.

8. Evaluation

8.1. Each year the Futures Group will:

a. Produce a report to form a basis for joint consultation and annual review

b. Evaluate the effectiveness of seminars and consultation and dissemination strategies

c. Develop plans and proposals for the year ahead.

9. Costings

The outline costs below cover the following:

a. P/T Development Worker 0.5 with (shared) administrative support. It Is envisaged that this position is within one of the founding organisations under their terms and conditions. The Development Worker would be expected to organise event/seminars, be responsible for all marketing and production of policy/reference documents and dissemination of information.

b. Non staff costs include: recruitment; computer; design/print and office costs, marketing (no overhead contribution).

c. Travel Costs for Core Group (no time cost included)

d. Event/Seminar costs include speaker; room hire; catering and travel for all (including participants); disability requirements for attendees.

10. Time Scale

Subject to endorsement by the NFA we hope to submit a grant application in October and hold the first seminars in 2009, following the schedule outlined below.

References

(1) 'All Our Futures: Planning for a Scotland with an Ageing Population'. Scottish executive, Edinburgh 2007

(2) 'Growing Older and Wiser Together - a futures view on positive ageing.' Scotland's Futures Forum, Edinburgh 2007

(3) 'Older Peoples' Organisations Meeting.' Minute: Scottish Government, Edinburgh, August 2007

Vision

The NFA as a dynamic and pro-active think tank which engages in imaginative forward thinking, planning for and the development of a future which sets Scotland firmly at the fore-front of the age agenda. This can be achieved through formation of a 'Futures Group' which engages with older people themselves in various localities throughout Scotland and feeds information and solutions to issues into the NFA.

Advantages

a. Stimulate, encourage and produce new ideas on ageing policy, planning and practice across all sectors to the benefit of government through innovative and imaginative policy formation and planning.

b. Creation of a uniquely Scottish approach to ageing that is positive and addresses particular issues in Scotland.

c. Achieve a positive legacy for the skills and talents of Older People by ensuring intergenerational activity at all levels.

d. Dissemination and policy briefings from the Events/Seminars and Consultations will assist in creating policy at a national level while providing a route that older people can clearly see leads to a national level of engagement through promotion of the NFA itself.

Outputs

Events/Seminars branded by NFA uniquely capturing the voices of those who are seldom heard.

a. Keynote speech/presentation:

b. Input on good local practice:

c. Facilitated Discussion with the aim of:

· capturing new thinking

· encouraging new links and partnerships

· pose questions, seek solutions

· inform the agenda for future NFA discussion through dissemination and policy briefings

Appendix Two

1. Keynote speech/presentation: on topic area for example Mental Health and Well-Being in Later Life: an account of the guiding skills of NTS volunteers at tourist venues and the benefits to mental health and well being.

2. Input on good local practice: this could take a variety of formats depending on the topic and could, for example, be evidence-based, activity based and/or inter-active and could include: a presentation by Older People who have established a business/social enterprise or participate in community engagement in later life and the benefits not only to the person but the community; a demonstration on local craft skills.

3. Facilitated Discussion(café style groups) with the aim of:

· capturing new thinking on topic e.g. how others can be encouraged to engage in mentally flourishing activities

· encouraging new links and partnerships e.g. volunteer organisation and CHP's; how can traditional skills be passed on

· pose questions for future work and/or research and seek solutions

· inform the agenda for future NFA discussion through report back.

Other formats could be used occasionally e.g.' Chatham House rules' discussion for a smaller group to encourage creativity. Consultation could also be used to research specific issues/attitudes for the NFA.

Programme will be revised if necessary at the end of year one in light of review and input from older people attending.