UN International Day of Older Persons

SPF Demonstration – United Nations International Day of Older Persons 2019

Theme: “The Journey to Age Equality”

To mark the United Nations International Day of Older Persons, the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum (SPF) held its annual demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament on 1st October 2019.

The event was once again strongly supported by SPF affiliates, campaigners, and friends from across Scotland.

This year’s theme focused on the persistent inequalities faced in later life, many of which stem from lifelong accumulative disadvantages including inequalities in education, employment, health, and social issues

The demonstration featured a range of powerful and personal contributions:

Maureen Gardner, SPF Chair, delivered a moving speech reflecting on her own life experiences. She spoke candidly about the challenges she faced growing up, including educational barriers, religious discrimination, and the enduring gender pay gap.

Christine Grahame MSP and Claire Baker MSP addressed the demonstrators, reaffirming their commitment to older people’s rights and social justice.

Tam Wilson, representing the STUC Better Than Zero Campaign, highlighted the importance of fair work and dignity in employment for all age groups.

Tommy Brennan, from North Lanarkshire Trades Council, and Irene Graham, of Unite Scotland Retired Members’ Branch, spoke passionately about the need for continued activism and solidarity on issues affecting older people.

Campaigners from the WASPI movement (Women Against State Pension Inequality) also took part, drawing attention to the injustices faced by women born in the 1950s due to changes in state pension age.

As in previous years, Sandra White MSP, Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Older People, Age and Ageing, submitted a motion to the Scottish Parliament recognising the significance of the day and reaffirming support for older people across Scotland.

Demo at Scottish Parliament, Thursday 27th September 2018

The Scottish Pensioners’ Forum held its yearly demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament on Thursday 27th September 2018 to mark United Nations International Day of Older Persons. Over 70 affiliates and friends brought their banners along to show their support on the day.

This year’s theme was “Celebrating Older People’s Champions” as well as celebrating 70 years of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Speakers included SPF Chair Maureen Gardner, Vice Chair Rose Jackson, John McAllion, Dundee Pensioners’’ Forum, Neil Findlay MSP, John Mason MSP and Alex Rowley MSP.

A message of solidarity from the STUC Youth Committee was delivered by Sarah Wiktorski who called on young and old to campaign together to bring about common change.

Sandra White MSP, Convenor of the Cross Party Group on Older People, Age and Ageing also lodged a motion in support of the event.

Maureen Gardner spoke to demonstrators and thanked them for their support. Drawing on the theme for the event, Celebrating Older People’s Champions, Maureen went on to declare that she felt all older people were indeed champions. Touching on the success of the SPF Hands Off Our Bus Pass campaign and the contribution which both Unite the Union and UNISON Retired Members branches brought to its success, Maureen stressed that this was only the beginning as the bus pass did not serve everyone, particularly those in rural areas, therefore the campaign must continue to include rail and ferry services too. Maureen went on to say that the SPF believes that the ability to get out and about helps combat the loneliness and isolation that many older people experience and that perhaps the time was right to call for the re-regulation of buses and bringing rail services back into public ownership.

Maureen went on to say that there were many other issues on which the SPF campaigned and asked demonstrators to continue to work with the organisation to ensure a better deal for older people.

Maureen finished by venting her annoyance at many sections of the press and media who were trying to drive a wedge between young and old.

Demo at Scottish Parliament, Thursday 28th September 2017

To mark UN International Day of Older Persons 2017, the SPF, held a demonstration outside The Scottish Parliament on Thursday 28th September 2017 and called on Ministers and MSP’s to recognise that older people and pensioners’ are still active within their communities and will continue to campaign and demonstrate in order to effect change within society.

The SPF marked the day by unveiling their ‘Hands off Our Bus Pass’ banner and encouraged supporters to submit their response to the consultation on concessionary travel.

Guest speakers included Richard Leonard MSP, who put forward a question on our behalf at First Minister’s Questions, Claire Baker MSP, Derek Young, Age Scotland as well as SPF Chair Rose Jackson and committee members Maureen Gardner and Elinor McKenzie. We also had a contribution from a member of the Welsh Parliament who happened to be visiting Edinburgh and asked to join our demonstration.

Thanks must also go to Christine Grahame MSP, Richard Lochhead MSP and Ross Greer MSP who came out to speak to us on issues affecting older people.

As always many thanks to all those who came along to support us from all over Scotland, your continued support in our work is very much appreciated.

Demo at Scottish Parliament, Thursday 29th September 2016

To mark UN International Older People’s Day 2016, the SPF, in conjunction with the STUC and other SPF affiliates and members, held a demonstration outside The Scottish Parliament calling for Ministers and MSP’s to recognise that older people and pensioners’ still have a major contribution to make in policy decisions and society as whole.

Guest speakers included SPF chair Rose Jackson, STUC Women’s committee Chair Davena Rankin and Bill Kidd MSP, who tabled a member’s motion on behalf of the SPF and older people in Scotland calling for the Scottish Government to recognise 1st October as UN International Day of Older Persons and to respect its theme of loneliness and isolation in older people.

Several MSPs joined us on the day and overall it was a very successful event.