SOPA Assembly planning meetings will be announced shortly so please start thinking if there is anything you would like us to include or if you have any feedback from the last Assembly.
SOPA Working Groups
SOPA’s working groups on Social Care as well as Isolation & Loneliness have now been created and the first meetings will be happening shortly. Updates will be provided in the next newsletter.
If you are interested in joining our working group on the potential pros and cons of the proposed Older People’s Commissioner in Scotland please email hetty@scotopa.org.uk.
SOPA Outreach Meetings
We held our first outreach meeting in the Borders in March 2024 at Gala House and were delighted that so many people attended. The event focussed on SOPA’s current objectives, Age-friendly Communities and discussions around Your Issue, Your Voice.
It was an insightful day of lively discussion and sharing of information. If you would like us to visit your area and deliver a similar event please let Hetty know at hetty@scotopa.org.uk.
Latest News on SOPA’s Age Friendly Communities (AfC) Work
Scottish Older People’s Assembly (SOPA) is the lead organisation in Scotland promoting Age-friendly Communities (AfCs). SOPA’s Project Co-ordinator, Tony Donohoe is working with representatives from different areas around Scotland to adopt the AfC approach and become part of a global movement, supported by the World Health Organisation.
April 2024 SOPA Newsletter Now Available
Find out more about the latest packed issue! Highlights include SOPA News, featuring the latest updates on SOPA’s Age-Friendly Communities (AfC) work and information about SOPA events and members’ meetings. This issue also includes a special feature: an interview with Colin Smyth MSP discussing his proposal for a Commissioner for Older People.
SOPA Working Groups
SOPA have agreed on three priority topics for discussion by members’ working groups which will be established in the next month or so. The working groups are asked to tackle priority issues at some Zoom meetings over a period of two to three months and make recommendations on action to the Board of Trustees. The first three topics are:
- Social Care (we anticipate several working groups tackling various aspects of Social Care over the life of the three-year plan)
- The potential pros and cons of the proposed Older People’s Commissioner in Scotland
- The impact of social isolation and ways in which it might be tackled in Scotland
Further details about how to join these groups will be sent out shortly to members.
However, in the meantime, if you are interested, in participating in any of these groups please email me at hetty@scotopa.org.uk.
Exciting Development as Perth & Kinross Council Join UK Network and More
Scottish Older People’s Assembly (SOPA) is the lead organisation in Scotland promoting Age-friendly Communities (AfCs). SOPA’s Project Co-ordinator, Tony Donohoe, is working with representatives from different areas around Scotland to adopt the AfC approach and become part of a global movement, supported by the World Health Organisation.
SOPA Annual General Meeting on 29th January 2024 in Glasgow
SOPA’s Chair, David Paterson, warmly welcomed 37 of our members and associate members to the 2022/23 annual general meeting. Due to a clash of dates with another partner organisation, SOPA moved its usual December AGM to last month.
Nonetheless, we were delighted to see so many representatives from our member organisations attending in person, especially as the weather that week had been bad enough to cause public transport difficulties.
Several others attended online, including members from the Highlands to the Scottish Borders.
Venue
Despite the cold and wet winter weather that day, we were comfortable and warm in the relatively new refurbished meeting facilities at Mackintosh At The Willow.
Formerly known as the Willow Tearooms, it is considered by many to be an art nouveau masterpiece designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Chair’s Report
The Chair thanked our Lead Officer, Hetty Malcolm-Smith, for all her work in organising the AGM and for all her work during the past year.
He reported that last year SOPA had continued to earnestly promote the voice of older people through a range of initiatives.
These included a parliamentary reception at Holyrood, meetings with cross-party groups, regular members meetings, and participating and working with a range of organisations and working groups on older people’s issues, such as the Older Peoples Strategic Action Forum.
Achievements
In addition to SOPA organising and delivering a very successful and well-attended Assembly on 9th October last year, other notable achievements include the continuing appointment of Older People’s Champions and the Age-Friendly Communities Project funded by the Tudor Trust.
Election Results
The members noted and approved the results of the election of trustees. These were David Paterson, Catriona Mason, Mary Osei-Oppong, and Chris Grant. Office-bearers were re-elected unopposed.
Financial Report
Elaine Alsop, SOPA’s independent financial examiner, spoke about the annual accounts she audited which were duly approved. She noted risks are recorded on a risk register and policies continue to be under review to ensure governance arrangements are robust to support the delivery of SOPA’s three-year strategic plan.
Presentations
Three presentations followed the formal AGM business:
- Teresa Lavery: SOPA’s Vice Chair, informed members about the board’s development day held on 25th January 2024 and the ongoing work of the trustees on our strategic plan for the next three years and also the new working groups being set up.
- Tony Donohoe: SOPA’s Project Coordinator for Age-Friendly Communities, updated our audience on his work to date.
- Dr. Louise Brown Nicholls: Senior Lecturer in Psychology Health and Wellbeing, at University of Strathclyde, is the founding Director of the Strathclyde Ageing Network. Her research is focused on understanding human memory and attention, and how these cognitive abilities are affected by adult ageing, especially healthy ageing. She delivered an interesting and illuminating presentation on her research into health and wellbeing through the adult lifespan.
Closing Remarks
The presentations were followed by a lively question and answer session. The meeting closed with the Chair thanking members, trustees, and staff for their commitment and engagement throughout the past year.