WAG must ring-fence strategy funds
Published on 12 November 2010 02:30 PM
The Welsh Assembly Government must protect the groundbreaking Strategy for Older People in Wales in its spending review on Wednesday 17 November.
The Strategy for Older People in Wales was set up to tackle pensioner poverty, ill-health among older people and age discrimination.
Age Cymru wants funding for the internationally-acclaimed strategy to be ring-fenced, as Chief Executive Robert Taylor explains:
"As a result of the Strategy for Older People in Wales there has been progress in increasing the number of people aged 50 and over in employment; in raising the numbers of people receiving help to live at home independently and more older people are being involved in a range of life-enhancing and meaningful activities at a local and national level.
"Governments throughout the UK and the world are envious of the achievements of the Strategy for Older People in Wales to date, but there is still a considerable amount to be achieved in tackling outdated ageist attitudes and in combating ill-health and poverty among older people in Wales.
"Funding is vital to ensure that the Strategy for Older People in Wales is delivering the change that is needed in our communities.
"While Age Cymru acknowledges that the current economic climate is placing pressures on government budgets across the board, the progress of this groundbreaking strategy will be severely restricted without the commitment of continued funding."