The resources from this year’s Influencing Conference are now available to all local and national Age UK staff.
We would like to thank all those who attended the Age UK Influencing Conference 2022! We hope you found the day informative and feel more confident when supporting older people through the difficult winter ahead of us. If you couldn’t attend or missed a session, we have curated a bookletwith all the key details from the Conference, including recordings of each session and speaker slides. You will also find information on the work of the Influencing Committee and upcoming events.
Please contact Luke Pilot (luke.pilot@ageuk.org.uk) if you would like to discuss anything about specific national campaigns or your local influencing further.
Find out all the details of this year’s Winter Health Campaign from Age UK’s Health Influencing Team. You can also download the Local Campaign Pack below.
Age UK’s Health Influencing team is happy to announce the launch of our 2022/23 Winter Health Campaign! The Winter Health Campaign will hopefully play a crucial role in ensuring older people have access to the information, advice, and support that they need to navigate the upcoming winter months. Find full details below, including a Local Campaign Pack you can use to help inform and support your own local winter campaigns this year.
With pre-pandemic levels of social contact expected this winter, we are increasingly wary of the potential for co-circulation of influenza, Covid-19, and other respiratory issues to put increased pressure on the NHS during an already difficult time.
Taken together, it’s clear we are facing a perfect storm this winter. This is why we’re asking for your support with Age UK’s Winter Health Campaign for another year. By working together, we can ensure older people have access to the information, advice, and support that they need to navigate the upcoming winter months.
This campaign will take place between October 2022 and March 2023 and aims to support as many older people as possible through the winter period. Please find below the Age UK Winter Health Campaign local pack, which we hope will be a useful resource to help inform and support your own local winter campaigns this year:
The latest Age UK campaigns calendar is now available! It contains details on the influencing work Age UK will be focusing on from October to December 2022 – including how you can get involved.
The latest Age UK campaigns calendar is now available below! Covering national influencing activity by Age UK and upcoming awareness campaigns across October to December, this edition includes details of our upcoming campaigning work over the coming months.
We’ve highlighted below some of the most important events in the calendar that will be coming up over the next few weeks, including some details on the ways you can get involved if you have time:
Malnutrition Awareness Week – 10th to 16th October
Please share the resources made available on the website and tweet the hashtag – #UKMAW2022
Black History Month – throughout October
Please look out for and share the three Discover pieces set to go live on our website throughout October.
Carers Leave Private Members Bill – Second reading: 21st October
The bill will enshrine in employment law the Government’s pledge to provide five days of unpaid carers leave for all unpaid carers.
If you have time, please write to your MPs to ask and ask them to support the bill.
Debt and mid-term fiscal plan – 31st October
This has now been brought forward to the 31st October (originally proposed for 23rd November)
If you have time, please write to your MPs to make clear the need for: benefits to be uprated in line with inflation, targeted funding for NHS and social care, and extended support for energy bills for older and vulnerable people.
Befriending Week – 1st to 7th November
See if you can put on thank you events for befrienders in your local area.
Please share resources using the Befriending Networks resource pack and their website and post during the week on socials.
Get in touch!
If you have any questions about our upcoming campaigning and influencing, or if you have any suggestions for future editions of the campaigns calendar, please get in touch with Miles Bassett: miles.bassett@ageuk.org.uk.
A reminder that the Digital Exclusion survey from Age UK’s Campaigns Team is open until Friday 23rd September. Find out full details, including how to complete the survey.
This is a quick reminder that Age UK’s Campaigns Team are running a short survey to learn how digital-only and digital-first methods for accessing local council services are disproportionately impacting older people and how local Age UKs are supporting them. Find out full details, including how to access the survey, below. The survey is open until Friday 23rd September.
Age UK’s Campaigns Team have been hearing that digital-only and digital-first methods for accessing local council services are disproportionately impacting older people. This is making it harder for older people who do not have access to the internet or are not confident online, to apply for Blue Badges and access other important services provided by their local council.
We’re keen to learn more about how widespread this issue is becoming, how local Age UKs are supporting older people experiencing digital exclusion, and how Age UK can respond nationally.
If you have time, we’d love to hear from your organisation via our short survey. The survey is open until Friday 23rd September.
Age UK has written a Parliamentary Briefing to assess the Government’s new ten-year Women’s Health Strategy. View both the strategy and the briefing here.
Following a call for evidence and the publication of its Vision for Women’s Health, the Government has now published a ten-year Women’s Health Strategy. Age UK has written a Parliamentary Briefing to assess the Government’s strategy, which you can find here. The briefing includes a summary of what we are pleased to see for older women in the strategy, as well as the further commitments we would like to see included.
If you have any questions or any feedback relating to the Women’s Health Strategy, please get in touch with luke.pilot@ageuk.org.uk.
Age UK’s Campaigns Team are keen to hear from local Age UKs about the ways that digital methods for accessing local council services are impacting older people.
Age UK’s Campaigns Team are running a short survey to learn how digital-only and digital-first methods for accessing local council services are disproportionately impacting older people and how local Age UKs are supporting them. Find out full details, including how to access the survey, below.
Age UK’s Campaigns Team have been hearing that digital-only and digital-first methods for accessing local council services are disproportionately impacting older people. This is making it harder for older people who do not have access to the internet or are not confident online, to apply for Blue Badges and access other important services provided by their local council.
We’re keen to learn more about how widespread this issue is becoming, how local Age UKs are supporting older people experiencing digital exclusion, and how Age UK can respond nationally.
If you have time, we’d love to hear from your organisation via our short survey.
The latest Age UK campaigns calendar is now available! It contains details on the influencing work Age UK will be focusing on in the third quarter of 2022 – including how you can get involved.
The latest Age UK campaigns calendar is now available below! Covering national influencing activity by Age UK and upcoming awareness campaigns across July – September, this edition includes details of our upcoming work on social care reforms, the cost of living, and some key legislation and policy changes coming from the Government.
Please note: much of this iteration of the Campaigns Calendar was written before the Prime Minister resigned and the contest for the new leadership of the Conservative party began. As such, these timings are subject to change. Please keep an eye on the daily Signpost emails for updates on our Campaigns and Influencing activity. If you would like to sign up for Signpost emails please use this form.
If you have any questions about our upcoming campaigning and influencing, or if you have any suggestions for future editions of the campaigns calendar, please get in touch with Luke Pilot: luke.pilot@ageuk.org.uk.
The Calendar is available to view and download below. We’ll also host in on our Campaigns Hub here.
With Carers Week and Loneliness Awareness Week both falling in June, here’s a roundup of Age UK’s influencing work across both weeks.
It’s been a busy month for the whole Age UK Network, with both Carers Week and Loneliness Awareness Week following each other during June! As you know, both weeks are major opportunities to raise awareness of these issues and to highlight the important work that is being done, and more that could be done, to tackle them. Read on to learn about some of the central influencing opportunities we engaged in over these two weeks:
Carers Week is delivered by Carers UK alongside Age UK and other charity partners as a celebration of the huge contributions of unpaid carers. This year, the campaign also focused on highlighting the impact of the pandemic on unpaid carers and calling on the Government to create and fund a Recovery & Respite plan.
Age UK’s role is to highlight the role of older carers and ensure the support they need is recognised. As well as arranging for two campaigners to speak with the Minister for Care and the Shadow Minister for Care during online calls, we also attended the Carers Week Parliamentary drop-in for MPs on 8th June.
Norman Philips, who cares for his wife, and Rasila Mehta, who cares for her sister, joined Age UK at the event and spoke to over 21 MPs and Peers about their experiences and the support they need to meet the demands of their roles as older carers. Alongside the more than 6000 campaigners who wrote to their MPs, Norman and Rasila demonstrated just how reliant the Health and Care sectors are on unpaid carers and made a very clear case for the need for immediate Government support.
You can read more about Carers Week and the Recovery & Respite plan here.
Norman Philips, Age UK’s Senior External Affairs Manager Eorann Lean, and Rasila Mehta
Loneliness Awareness Week – Tackling Loneliness with the Minister
We started the week with a webinar, chaired by Darren Henry MP, on supporting those on low incomes to overcome loneliness. We had a fantastic presentation from Jenny Paton at Age UK Wirral on their work with their local hospital trust.
To mark the end of Loneliness Awareness Week, Nigel Huddleston, the Minister responsible for tackling the loneliness agenda, joined a game of walking football in his constituency at Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire last Friday.
He got to see first-hand an example of the amazing work the Age UK Network does to tackle loneliness across the country. Walking football is a great way for players to socialise, while staying active at the same time.
The team spoke with the Minister about why playing means so much to them. Richard told him:
“I’ve made new friends and gotten to know more people. We all stop for a coffee after and have a chat. For those who are getting on or may have lost a partner, it helps with socialising. If someone doesn’t turn up for a few weeks, we reach out on our WhatsApp group.”
Richard, a regular walking football player
The Minister was happy to get stuck in and have a kick about with the team. It’s safe to say he thoroughly enjoyed himself and was very impressed with Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire, saying later:
“it was great to see their inspiring work helping older people make new friends while having fun and getting exercise.”
Nigel Huddleston, Minister for Sport, Tourism, Heritage and Civil Society
You can read more on the Age UK Discover blog and see some lovely clips of the visit on the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s twitter feed below:
The programme helps older people play sport for longer, keeping them active and giving opportunities to build relationships@FA | @SportEngland | @ageuk
We are deeply thankful to all our campaigners and all the local Age UKs who support unpaid carers and deliver services essential to tackling loneliness in older people. This work is essential for supporting the older people who need us most. Age UK will of course continue campaigning for them, to make sure they get the support they need.
If you have any questions about our campaigning work, please get in touch – luke.pilot@ageuk.org.uk.
As Carers Week continues, we’ve launched a new campaign action, asking our supporters to join the call for a Recovery and Respite plan. Find out how you can spread the word below.
As Carers Week continues, today’s focus is a celebration of older carers. There are more than 2 million older carers providing a vital service to their loved ones in the UK and we have loved working with you to recognise and celebrate everything they do to help others. We’ve launched a new campaign action, asking our supporters to join the Carers Week call for a Recovery and Respite plan. Find out full details below, including how you can spread the word.
Recovery and Respite
Recognising the contributions of carers is only one part of Carers Week. Yesterday we launched a campaigners’ action, asking our supporters to join the Carers Week call for a Recovery and Respite plan that would give carers the break they have needed, but haven’t had, since even before the pandemic began.
Spreading the word on Social Media
We have asked our supporters to write to their MP, asking them to support the delivery of this plan. We would really appreciate you promoting this call too. You can use the following template social media posts.
Twitter:
This #CarersWeek2022 we are calling on the Government to provide a proper respite and recovery plan for unpaid carers.
Taking a break should be a normal part of everyone’s daily life. Even before the pandemic, many carers were supporting their loved ones 24/7. After 2 gruelling years, they really need a break, but many still do not have the option.
We are calling on the Government to provide a proper respite and recovery plan for unpaid carers. Join our call and write to your MP here:
The annual Carers Week event also features a brand new report, summarising the experiences of carers over the pandemic and the coming challenges they will need support with, as well as outlining the need for a fully funded Recovery and Respite plan that supports their wellbeing.
Thank you for all your work delivering events and support during this important awareness week. If you have any queries, please contact luke.pilot@ageuk.org.uk. We look forward to celebrating our incredible carers with you!
Age UK’s Campaigns Team have published an urgent new report “It’s Doesn’t Add Up” all about the cost of living crisis. Find out how you can spread the word below.
Age UK has published an urgent report on the rising cost of living, calling on the Government to provide immediate financial support for pensioners. Find out full details of the “It Doesn’t Add Up” report below, including how your organisation can help to spread the word.
The new report, “It Doesn’t Add Up”, warns that those on the very lowest incomes are spending almost a fifth (18 per cent) of their after-tax household income on energy bills because of April’s price cap rise, with one in three older households (29 per cent) in England ‘fuel-stressed’.
Life is fast becoming unaffordable for many older households on low and modest incomes, with millions unable to pay for basic items, according to the new report published today.
The report calls for the Government to commit to the following measures to help those on low and modest incomes:
Raising the level of benefits and the State Pension during this financial year so they keep pace with inflation.
Targeting a direct one-off payment of £500 to those on the lowest incomes to help mitigate the impact of energy price rises.
Introducing improved social tariffs into the energy market.
Doing more to ensure everyone eligible for benefits such as Pension Credit receives their entitlement.
Social Media Templates
We are anticipating a major announcement imminently from the Government on new measures to help those on low and modest incomes to face the rising cost of living.
It would really help build pressure on the Government and raise awareness of the challenges facing older people if you could share the report and the policy calls with your supporters.
You can use the following template social media posts to promote the report:
Twitter
Tweet 1:
Older people on low and modest incomes are struggling to make ends meet. Prices of everyday items are going up so quickly that they risk being totally overwhelmed.
“I have cut out eating lunch as I need to reduce my food bill, some days having only one meal a day.”
Millions of older households won’t have enough money to cover essentials this year. Age UK’s report #ItDoesntAddUp calls for immediate Government support:
We are concerned about how the rising cost of living is affecting older people on low and modest incomes. Prices of everyday items are going up so quickly that they risk being totally overwhelmed. Age UK’s new report #ItDoesntAddUp calls on the Government to act now and support those most at risk during the #CostOfLivingCrisis:
