Older People’s Strategic Action Forum minutes: January 2025

Attendees and apologies

• Deputy Director, Directorate General Communities 
• Scottish Government official, Directorate General Communities
• Scottish Government official, Directorate General Communities
• Scottish Government official, Directotate General Communities
• Associate Director for Policy, Communications and External Affairs, Age Scotland
• Chief Executive, Generations Working Together
• Wellbeing Manager, Glasgow Disability Alliance 
• Community Development Advisor, Outside The Box
• Community Response Officer, We Are Hourglass
• Policy and Public Affairs Manager, Independent Age 
• Development Officer, Scottish Pensioners Forum 
• Director, Faith in Older People 
• Service Manager, LGBT Health 
• Secretary, Soroptimist International 
• Executive Chair, Genanalytics 
• Partnership facilitator, South Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership

Items and actions

Introduction

The chair welcomed members to the group. 

Minute

Members approved the minutes from last meeting. 

Scottish Government update 

An update was given on recent budget activity. 

Pensioner Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP)  

An overview of PAWHP, including its background, the decision making process on the future of winter heating support in Scotland, plans for delivery, and details of the payment was provided. 

A Fairer Scotland for Older People: framework for action refresh

Feedback from roundtable discussions identified key challenges for older people, including:

• cost of living pressures
• access to health and social care
• transport accessibility
• social and digital isolation

with variation across rural and urban areas. 

Participants highlighted the importance of locally responsive and joined up approaches, including:

• opportunities for employment
• volunteering
• community participation

Ageing well strategy  

A presentation on ageing well was provided, outlining the challenges associated with an ageing population and the background to the Age Friendly Community model. 

The presentation also covered the development of an Ageing Well approach in South Ayrshire, including evidence of impact from Age Friendly Communities in the UK and internationally, and early local activity.

Any other business and closing   

An update was provided on the OPSAF membership.