foundations and from donations made by generous individuals. The initiative which triggered the founding of the MSOPC came from Anne Jones, an MSDC Councillor who, feeling that some of the needs of old people were not being met by the existing services, put a notice in the newspapers asking if anybody would be interested in forming a group to tackle the issue. Nine good-hearted people came forward including Barbara Baldwin and the now 80-year-old Council Secretary Elizabeth Willett – and MSOPC was born. Almost its first decision was that it would be strictly non- party political and that membership would be free. Initially, laughed Barbara, its total assets were a ream of paper and a box of envelopes. “We were all retired folk and we simply felt there was a communications gap and that the health authorities and the government were about 25 years out of date – as though they thought the older section of the population just sat about just knitting or something!” As well as gathering and disseminating information about the real, practical needs of the
The authorities were about 25 years out of date – like they
thought we just sat about knitting
or something
MSOPC Development Officer Anita Wright
aging population, MSOPC also arranges one-off events which are free to the public and which are usually a mix of entertainment, refreshments and useful information with titles like ‘Paying for Care’ or ‘Pensions and Benefits’ and ‘Warm Homes, Healthy People’. Sometimes an event will be paid for by funds specifically raised by MSOPC for the purpose and sometimes it will be held in conjunction with other bodies like the WSCC or the Health Service. Details of these meetings can be found on the MSOPC website or in their Newsletter. In addition to running their own meetings, the MSOPC is very pro-active in taking their messages out into the community, and that is the job of Development Officer Anita Wright, the only paid member of the charity’s management team. A specialist in the voluntary and public sectors with a focus on older people, Anita is extremely knowledgeable on the subject and carries out her role with real energy and enthusiasm. “I talk a lot at coffee mornings, over 60s groups, Age Concern meetings, WI – you name it. If a group with an interest in or membership composed of older people, would like me to come along, all they have to do is ring up and ask. I’m more than happy to go and give a talk on subjects like health or welfare for example, or the current hot topic in Mid Sussex: loneliness and isolation. Of course, I can always bring in a specialist, if it’s a technical subject like Pensions or Benefit Entitlements.” Anita explains how the MSOPC is dedicated to improving the lives of older people. “It’s not just about existence. Life should be about having fun, mixing with the community, pursuing your hobbies, meeting your friends. You don’t stop needing all these things when you start to draw your pension.” Then there’s the MSOPC Helpline, a very useful resource because the Council is effectively a hub of people from widely different backgrounds and experiences and they can usually provide answers to the questions that trouble older people. The older people’s champions, MSOPC fulfil a much needed and much admired role in improving all our lives because, as someone reminded me: with any luck, we will all be old one day. You can contact the Mid Sussex Older People’s Council on 01444 242760 or visit www.msopc.org.uk
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S u ss e x L i v i n g January 2014
www.sussexliving.com