West Lothian Council delivers

Senior People's Forum

 

West Lothian Senior People's Forum (previously known as the Older People's Forum) was launched on 5th November 2009 with over 50 older people from throughout West Lothian in attendance. 

The purpose of the forum is to provide an opportunity for the Council and local senior people to act in partnership in reviewing and addressing the future challenges we jointly face. In particular, the forum will:

• seek to identify and harness the experience, opinions and desires of senior people offering them an opportunity to express their views on a wide range of issues
• enable communication to be established and maintained between local senior people, the Council and its community planning partners
• enable the Council to consult senior people on its approach in developing local responses to the Scottish Strategy for an Ageing Population
• help support organisations which represent senior people

Next meeting:   Next meeting of the Senior People's Forum will take place on 12th June, 2012 from 1.00pm to 4.00pm in Space 3 at the Howden Park Centre in Livingston. Senior people and organisations which have an interest or who represent senior people are invited to attend and contribute to the discussions. Please note: Suggestions for items for inclusion on the agenda require to be forwarded to us by 5.00pm on 21st May at the very latest. Please email any suggestions for inclusion to seniorpeoplesforum@westlothian.gov.uk

Challenge Fund

The Challenge Fund was set up by West Lothian CHCP to provide funding to support the initial development of new initiatives or ideas that will improve the wellbeing and opportunities available to vulnerable adults (inclusive of older people) living in West Lothian.

Applications are invited from a wide range of areas and, to apply, interested parties should read the associated Criteria for Accessing the Challenge Fund document and complete the Challenge Fund Application Form as fully as possible. Both the criteria document and the application form can be downloaded from the section at the foot of this webpage.

New service for lesbian gay bisexual and transgender older people in West Lothian

The Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Centre for Health and Wellbeing have recently launched a new service aimed specifically at supporting those over 50 years of age, including offering:

• Social opportunities, outings and events to improve social networks
• A volunteer befriending service scheme providing one to one support
• An information service covering a range of topics, including mainstream support and services, housing and legal matters
• An advocacy service to offer individuals support in dealing with issues such as accessing health and social care services or challenging discrimination.

This service is available at no cost to any older person living within West Lothian. For further information or if you have any questions relating to this service contact Garry McGregor on 0131 523 1107 or alternatively email at garry@lgbthealth.org.uk 

Pensioner Income Maximisation Service

The council has a dedicated team to offer assistance and advice on all types of benefits income to people aged 60 and over. For further details please refer to the leaflets in the Downloadable Documents section below, alternatively please contact the West Lothian Advice Shop:

The Advice Shop
Bathgate Partnership Centre
Lindsay House
South Bridge Street
Bathgate
EH48 1TS
Tel: 01506 283000
email: advice.shop@westlothian.gov.uk

The Food Train

We are delighted to be able to advise that the Food Train is now up and running across West Lothian. This shopping and delivery service is available to those aged 65 plus who, due to frailty or illness, are unable to shop for themselves.

As demand for the service grows, volunteers are still being sought so if you have some spare time and would like to assist please contact 01506 654360. 

Requests for the shopping service may also be made using the same telephone number during normal office hours, 10.00am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays.

Improved Access to Insurance for Older People

It is about to become easier for older people to get motor and travel insurance because of an agreement between the Association of British Insurers, the Government and the British Insurance Brokers Association.

From the 6th of April 2012, if an insurer or broker is unable to offer cover to an older motorist or traveller due to their age being above the limit they have cover for, they will automatically refer them to another provider who can meet their needs or to a dedicated signposting service such as the "Find a Broker" service.

 

updated: 13/04/12