Bits & Pieces

D umfries and Galloway Seniors Forum

Funded by Comic Relief, through the Scottish Community Foundation. Comic Relief spends money raised by its fundraising campaigns, Red Nose Day and Sport Relief.

Scottish Older People’s Assembly video-links with Dumfries

A unique opportunity was given to a group of seniors in our region this week (Tuesday, 25th October) when they were able to pose questions directly to Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister, and to Steve Webb MP, Cabinet Minister for Pensions, via live video link.

Dumfries & Galloway Seniors Forum hosted a local session of the third Scottish Older People’s Assembly which was simultaneously broadcast to Edinburgh, Inverness and Hamburg. Over thirty people were present in Dumfries including members of the public, representatives of various groups, and a mix of statutory and voluntary partners.

The Assembly heard from a panel of young and old on the challenges of getting your voice heard, and whether the Government- funded Scottish Youth Parliament meant younger people were having more success than seniors in effecting change.

The day proved a ground-breaker and those present in Dumfries thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to participate. Thanks must go to Dumfries & Galloway College for generously making their facilities available; and to the Scottish Government for providing the Assembly budget for its third year. D & G Seniors Forum volunteers organised the day and are to be congratulated. DGSF also appreciates funding from D & G Council and NHS D & G which enables the local charity to initiate such events.