West of Scotland Seniors Forum

West of Scotland Seniors Forum (formerly Strathclyde Elderly Forum) is Scotland's foremost seniors grassroots representative organisation. We represent the interests of 400,000 seniors in the 12 unitary authority areas in the West of Scotland and are the umbrella body for 90+ local Senior Forums.

West of Scotland Seniors Forum believes that every older person is entitled to a secure, dignified and independent retirement. We work towards raising awareness of issues affecting older people and ensuring that decision-makers and service providers are informed about older people’s needs and views on service provision and other matters affecting them.

HISTORY OF THE FORUM MOVEMENT IN SCOTLAND

The first Elderly Forum began in 1983 in Castlemilk, Glasgow. A public meeting was organised by the Strathclyde Regional Council Social Work Department and invitations to attend were sent out to all Pensioners Groups. At this meeting pensioners made a list of problems that affected them particularly housing, health, transport and welfare problems. They then decided to form a group, which they called the Castlemilk Elderly Forum, and elected a Steering Group. The seniors realised that if they got together in one group they could ask for improved services and also meet with officers from departments and elected representatives.

From this, a series of two-monthly meetings were arranged with officials and Councillors where seniors could put forward their ideas and problems progress was beginning to be made. (photo: Castlemilk Forum on the march)

Soon other areas in Glasgow got to hear about Castlemilk Elderly Forum and wanted to form similar Forums in their neighbourhood. The Castlemilk seniors felt that the best way to contact pensioners’ groups throughout Glasgow was to hold a one-day Conference.

THE SLEEPING GIANT CONFERENCE

The first ‘Sleeping Giant’ Conference was held in October 1984, with a follow-up Conference arranged for January 1985. The Conferences were attended by 350 and 450 pensioners respectively and both were very successful.

The aim of the Conference was to get pensioners together and encourage them to work on campaigns for better services, and to get them to form their own Forums. Those who attended felt that they were able to share information, ideas, knowledge and experiences. (Photo: Jack Jones addresses the sleeping giant conference).

Between the first Conference and the follow-up Conference in January another six Forums in Glasgow had formed and several other areas outwith Glasgow had shown a keen interest in establishing their own Forums.

Pensioners had now begun to realise their potential in terms of influencing policy. In summer 1985 it became apparent that in order to progress wider issues, forums would have to develop a strong representative voice. To this end, delegates from the 9 established forums joined together to form Strathclyde Elderly Forum (SEF). SEF was launched with the declaration that “the Sleeping Giant has woken up and is on the move” referring to the fact that there were 400,000 pensioners in
Strathclyde and they would be a powerful group if they united.

Strathclyde Elderly Forum, now known as West of Scotland Seniors Forum, is the umbrella group for all senior forums in the West of Scotland. (photo: George Follett, Founding SEF Member)

WHAT WSSF DO

West of Scotland Seniors Forum (WSSF) is a registered charity and was formed in 1985 to act as the umbrella body for the network of local senior forums located throughout the 12 local authority areas in the West of Scotland. From its office base in Glasgow, WSSF provides Information/Research, Training, Support and Advice for new and established local senior forums.

WSSF works to raise awareness of issues affecting older people and ensures that decision-makers and service providers are informed about older peoples’ needs and views on services and other matters affecting them. WSSF also acts as a consultative body, giving statutory agencies (e.g. Health Boards or Social Work Departments) older peoples’ views on current and proposed service provision.

The organisation is run by a board of directors made up entirely of Seniors who are elected by the forums in their local authority area. WSSF has joined together with other Scottish grassroots Older Peoples groups and organised meetings with Scottish Executive Ministers to put across the older persons viewpoint. (Photo: Members Protest).

WSSF works closely with our members to ensure that our advice, training, information and support reflect and address the issues that matter to them. WSSF works with other community organisations and agencies including the Scottish Executive, Local Authorities, Health Boards and Social Work Departments to identify, highlight and address the issues of concern to older people.

WSSF is one of the UK’s foremost grassroots pensioners’ representative groups and has assisted in setting up senior forums in other parts of the country. WSSF is an independent grassroots representative organisation and is run by older people for older people.

WSSF VISION & AIMS:

Our vision is for a society in which all older people should be enabled to make representations about issues of concern to them and to raise public awareness about these issues, so that they may all have a secure, dignified, respectful and independent retirement Our vision & aims are delivered by:  Information/Research, newsletters, briefings, reports, consultations, annual conference, assembly meetings, policy updates, research, seminars, web site, pensioners’ charter, training, committee skills, forum handbook, basic book keeping, fund raising, basic IT development support, new forums established, redevelopment of existing forums advice, telephone/letter service, signposting (complex cases), and constitutions

BOARD MEMBERS

STAFF

Chief Executive & Company Secretary - Sandra Martin

Information & Research Officer - Robert OHare

Development Officer - Angus Nimmo

Development Worker (Glasgow) - Dawn Graham

Are You Cold? Development Worker - Jill O'Sullivan (phyllis hutchison)

Administrator - Yvonne Mulvey

WSSF FUNDERS

LOCAL AUTHORITIES

East Ayrshire  
East Dunbartonshire  
East Renfrewshire  
Glasgow  
North Lanarkshire  
South Lanarkshire  
West Dunbartonshire

OTHER FUNDERS

• NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde
• TSB Lloyds
• Comic Relief