Contact your Council Leader
We have listed the contact details below of council leaders from local authorities who do not currently have an Older People's Champion. Click on your local authority's name to find the contact details you need.
We have created this template letter which you can use and adapt. You can also find the text of the letter below if you'd prefer to copy and paste it.
If you're not sure which local authority you live in, you can check here by entering your post code: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
Aberdeen City
Council Leader: Jenny Laing
Email: jelaing@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Address: Aberdeen City Council, Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1FY
Argyll & Bute
Council Leader: Robin Currie
Email: robin.currie@argyll-bute.gov.uk
Correspondence Address: 10 Burnside, Bruichladdich, Islay, PA49 7UR
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Council Leader: Roddie Mackay
East Dunbartonshire
Council Leaders: Andrew Polson & Vaughan Moody
Email: andrew.polson@eastdunbarton.gov.uk; vaughan.moody@eastdunbarton.gov.uk
East Lothian
East Renfrewshire
Council Leader: Tony Buchanan
Email: tony.buchanan@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
Address: 13 Aurs Drive, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, G78 2LR
Fife
Council Leaders: David Ross & David Alexander
Email: cllr.david.ross@fife.gov.uk; cllr.david.alexander@fife.gov.uk
Address:
22 Barnton Road, Kirkcaldy, KY2 6XD (Councillor Ross)
39 Hill Road, Kennoway, Fife, KY8 5HG (Councillor Alexander)
Glasgow City
Orkney Islands
Council Leader: James Stockan
Email: james.stockan@orkney.gov.uk
Address: 102 Victoria Street, Stromness, KW16 3BU
Shetland Islands
Council Leader: Steven Coutts
Email: steven.coutts@shetland.gov.uk
Address: Town Hall, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0HB
Stirling
Council Leader: Scott Farmer
Email: farmers@stirling.gov.uk
Address: Stirling Council, Old Viewforth, Stirling, FK8 2ET
Use our template letter to contact your council leader:
[Date]
Dear [insert name of Council Leader],
Older People’s Champions Campaign
I am writing to seek your support for Age Scotland and the Scottish Older People’s Assembly’s (SOPA) campaign for every local authority in Scotland to establish the role of Older People’s Champion and to appoint a councillor to the position.
An Older People’s Champion is a councillor who acts as a link between the council and older people in the local area. More than half of local authorities in Scotland now have a Champion/s in post, but I understand that the role does not exist here yet.
Age Scotland and SOPA also facilitate a network of Older People’s Champions, bringing together Champions from across Scotland to discuss issues affecting older people at local and national level. The group allows Champions to work together on shared challenges and collectively influence for change. It would be beneficial if our area were represented.
With a growing older population, it is vital that local decision-making meets the needs of older people and that councillors have a better understanding of these. Local authorities are responsible for providing and supporting so many services which older people rely on – such as public transport, social care provision, planning and communities.
As many local authority budgets are under pressure, older people need someone specifically tasked with standing up for their interests and finding out what they need from local decision-makers. Importantly, there is no budgetary implication attached to this role.
I believe the impact of COVID-19 on Scotland’s older people has only strengthened the need for an Older People’s Champion here.
I hope that you can support this campaign and will establish the role of an Older People’s Champion for our council. I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
[Address and post code]
[Email]