A special event was held for former members of the Armed Forces to ensure they are supported within the community
Older veterans have come together to have their voices heard at a special event.
The veterans gathered this week to share their views on what’s important to them – and the outcome of these discussions will be shared with ministers later in the year.
The event, which took place in Bathgate on Thursday (13 June), was hosted by the Scottish Older People’s Assembly (SOPA), in partnership with the Unforgotten Forces consortium.
SOPA exists to give a strong voice to older people about their concerns and experience of life, raises issues about age inequalities and identifies issues that worry the older population. It conveys messages direct to the Scottish Government and supports policy that has a positive impact on challenges in later life.
Among those in attendance was Jim Houghton, a Royal Navy Veteran, who said: “It was good to have the opportunity to put our views forward as veterans. The event was very successful and helpful, and there was a great deal of information given to us about the services available for older veterans through Unforgotten Forces.”
Unforgotten Forces is a partnership of 16 organisations which is delivering a range of new services and enhancements to older veterans and their families in areas including advice, access to healthcare, social isolation, respite, along with creative activities and events for those in care settings.
Glen MacDonald, Poppyscotland’s Unforgotten Forces coordinator, said: “The event has been a great success and the whole focus has been to gather the views, concerns and opinions of a representative sample of Scotland’s older veterans on a range of local and national issues of relevance and interest to them.
“In turn, their input will be used to feed SOPA’s annual Scottish Parliamentary Assembly at Holyrood in October at which the matters raised will be debated and considered by MSPs as a contribution towards influencing government policy. This will be the first occasion on which the specific issues of relevance to older veterans will feature at this annual SOPA event.”
Diana Findley, chair of SOPA, added: “SOPA is arranging an annual assembly at the Scottish Parliament in October to ensure that the voices and experiences of older people are heard and acted upon by politicians and influencers. It is important that in the run-up to that event we engage with as many different voices as possible, and the event in Bathgate provided an opportunity for older veterans to share their views on what’s important to them.”
Veterans also heard a presentation about the success of Unforgotten Forces to date before a musician representing one of the consortium’s partners, Music in Hospitals & Care, entertained the attendees with his voice and on the guitar.
