Contact your Council Leader
We have listed the contact details of Council Leaders of local authorities who do not yet 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
* denotes a local authority which had an Older People's Champion (or equivalent position) before the local government elections in May 2022, but which is yet to confirm a re-appointment as far as we are aware.
Aberdeen City
Co-Leaders: Christian Allard & Ian Yuill
Email: callard@aberdeencity.gov.uk and iyuill@aberdeencity.gov.uk
Address: Aberdeen City Council, Town House, Broad Street, Aberdeen, AB10 1FY
Aberdeenshire*
Council Leader: Mark Findlater
Email: cllr.m.findlater@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
Correspondence Address: Woodhill House, Westburn Rd, Aberdeen AB16 5GB
City of Edinburgh*
Council Leader: Cammy Day
Email: Cammy.Day@edinburgh.gov.uk
Correspondence Address: 42 High St, Edinburgh EH1 1TG
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Council Leader: Paul Steele
Email: paulf.steele@cne-siar.gov.uk
East Renfrewshire
Glasgow City
Orkney Islands
Council Leader: James Stockan
Email: james.stockan@orkney.gov.uk
Address: 102 Victoria Street, Stromness, KW16 3BU
Renfrewshire*
Council Leader: Iain Nicolson
Shetland Islands
Council Leader: Emma Macdonald
Email: emma.macdonald@shetland.gov.uk
Address: Town Hall, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0HB
West Dunbartonshire*
Council Leader: Martin Rooney
Use our template letter to contact your council leader:
[Date]
Dear [insert name of Council Leader/Councillor],
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. As such, I would welcome the consideration of the creation of the role for our council.
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 and community services.
As many local authority budgets are under pressure and as we all attempt to cope with the rising cost of living, 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.
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.
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]