Farewell to ESPOPF

On November 15 2016, ESPOPF members met for the last time to celebrate 20 years of lobbying and campaigning for older people in Eastleigh’s Southern Parishes and beyond.

The occasion was the launch of a report of ESPOPF’s seventh and final piece of research into problems faced by older people, Alarming Conclusions - older people and emergencies. The research concluded that, since older people could confidently expect to find themselves in emergency situations, it was essential that they develop strategies to prevent them or, at the very least, to cope with them. Examples of some strategies were included.

Two friends of the Forum had been invited to speak: Debbie Beale, former Engagement and Inclusion Officer of Help the Aged and Age UK, and Leela Damodaran, Professor of Participation and Digital Inclusion at Loughborough University. Both paid tribute to the amazing achievements of the Forum in raising awareness of the contribution older people could make to the development of national and international policy when their voices were heard.

Both speakers emphasised the urgent need of national and local government to work with older people, promote age-friendly communities with more digital inclusion, and responsive emergency services. They approved the research report’s endorsement of the vital contribution mobile phones could make in emergencies if older people were encouraged to use them.

After a finger-buffet lunch, members reminisced about their memories and experiences of ESPOPF, sampled birthday cake and bubbly and presented an award to Diane Andrewes, in recognition of 20 years of dedicated service as Hon. Secretary. Other long-serving members, Betty Lawrence (Hon. Treasurer) and David Andrewes (research and all-round support) were thanked for their outstanding contributions and Chair, Bernard Brombley, expressed thanks to all members for their involvement.

It is hoped that a brief history of ESPOPF will be produced and published on the website during 2017.

Newsletter

You can download the latest and last Newsletter by clicking this link.

What was ESPOPF?

ESPOPF was an independent group of older people from Eastleigh's six southern parishes.

It provided a platform for the expression of older people's concerns on local and national issues.

It represented those concerns to statutory authorities, voluntary organizations and the wider public.

It was affiliated to the National Pensioners' Convention, Keep NHS Public and linked with many organisations working for older people.

It was established in September 2000.

Those aged over 55 and living in Botley, Bursledon, Hamble, Hedge End, Hound or West End, were eligible to be a member.

What did ESPOPF do?

• Newsletter
• Open Meetings
  Bi-monthly Members' Meetings with Speakers
• Research
  by older people into older people’s problems
• Consultations
  ESPOPF responded to consultations sent by statutory organizations and the NHS
• Campaigns
  
  • ESPOPF supported campaigns organized by 38 degrees, the National Pensioners Convention and Keep Our NHS Public.
  • Campaigned nationally and successfully with the National Pensioners Convention and Help the Aged on the free Bus Pass and Keeping Cheques with Age UK.
  • Campaigned locally on retaining travel tokens and free bus passes administered by HCC; retaining library services, especially mobile libraries; retaining free blue badge parking on HCC property; improving end of life care; patient transport; new Moorgreen NHS treatment centre; preventing cuts to tax credits.
• Established splinter groups
  eg Bursledon Arts and Crafts Group, Hamble Culture Club, Hamble Valley U3A, Good Neighbour Groups.
• Lobbyied MPs
• Culture Club
• 100 Club