Caerphilly 50+ Forum Organisation

To encourage development of an Older People’s Forum a Participation and Involvement Officer for Older People(50+), Deborah Boyce, was appointed at the Gwent Association of Voluntary Organisations (GAVO). Her appointment was under the auspices of Caerphilly CBC Strategy for Older People and her remit is to progress the development of an independent 50+ Forum in Caerphilly, and to encourage and support the involvement and participation of older people(50+) in issues and decisions that affect them. Caerphilly CBC have also appointed Older People’s Champions.

A Steering Group of volunteers was established in November 2004 and has been responsible, with support from Deborah Boyce, for the initial launch of the Forum. Steering Group meetings are held regularly (normally monthly) and Caerphilly 50+ Forum meetings have been held every two months following a forum launch meeting in April 2005. Forum membership is open to any person 50+ resident in the Caerphilly Borough and there are currently well in excess of 100 members. These members being either individual members or representatives of older person groups. Steering Group members are currently the original volunteers but election of officers will be required at future Annual General Meetings. This is in line with a constitution adopted at a Special General Meeting of the Forum on 17th October 2005. Deborah Boyce left in July 2006 and was replaced by a new Participation and Involvement Officer, Stephen Thomas, in August 2006. Stephen is employed full time and will continue to work closely with the forum as well as assisting in the development of the Digital Lobbying project.