Cathie becomes the council’s 14th Champion
Edinburgh councillors have appointed the council’s first ever Older People’s Champion for the city. Councillor Catherine Fullerton will take up the mantle with immediate effect, acting as a link between the Council and older people in the Edinburgh area.
The creation of the new Champion role comes after an approach to the Council by Age Scotland and the Scottish Older People’s Assembly.
Cllr Fullerton’s new remit will see her ensuring older people’s perspectives are understood in every policy area, feeding back to the Council on older people’s concerns, leading on Council campaigns around older people’s issues and helping to communicate Council policy to older people and the wider community.
Cllr Fullerton said: “It’s an honour to be appointed as Edinburgh’s first ever Older People’s Champion and I’m really looking forward to helping our older citizens’ voices be heard at the heart of our decision-making process.
“Making life better for older people will be at the core of my work as Champion – I can’t wait to get started.”
Age Scotland Chief Executive Brian Sloan said: “We’re delighted that the City of Edinburgh Council is showing leadership by establishing this important role.
“There’s never been a greater need to ensure that older people’s views are represented, and they can play a full part in their communities. Edinburgh’s population is ageing, and the number of people aged 75 and older is predicted to rise by a quarter over the next decade.
“The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the lives of many older people, both in terms of physical health and soaring levels of loneliness and isolation. As we look to the recovery, it’s vital that the Older People’s Champion ensures that those affected are not forgotten about and get all the support they need.
“More than half of Scotland’s local authorities now have an Older People’s Champion, and we can already see the difference they are making on issues such as public transport, community services, social care and leisure facilities.
“It’s wonderful to see the growing support for this important role, and we hope that other councils will now follow Edinburgh’s lead.”
The Council has elected member Champions for the following roles:
Active Travel (Cllr Maureen Child), Built Environment and Sustainability (Cllr George Gordon), Canal (Cllr Gavin Corbett), Carers (Cllr Joan Griffiths), Child Poverty (Cllr Cammy Day), Equalities (Cllr George Gordon), Festivals (Cllrs Donald Wilson and McNeese-Mechan), Gaelic (Cllr Alison Dickie), Homelessness (Cllr Kate Campbell), Small Business (Cllr Lezley Marion Cameron), Veterans (Lord Provost), Volunteering (Lord Provost) and Young People (Cllr Eleanor Bird).
In 2017, the role of a champion was set out to:
- act as an ambassador for their specifiqed area, which includes taking responsibility for maintaining and raising the profile of their area;
- support the work of the committee convenors through working in a collaborative role and feeding into the decision-making role of the relevant convenors;
- contribute to the development of policy in Edinburgh of their area and providing leadership and guidance when required; act as a local expert and advocate working with and engaging with communities across the city;
- and, ensure focus is maintained on achieving the desired objectives and outcomes of their area.
So many Champions, so little time …