Ministerial Advisory Forum on Ageing meeting minutes: 2 December 2024

• Professor John Williams, Academia, Aberystwyth University
• Professor Charles Musselwhite, Academia, Aberystwyth University
• Professor Paul Willis, Academia, Cardiff University
• Vicki Lloyd (VL), Age Cymru, chair
• Nicola Pitman, Local Authority Age Friendly Network, Cardiff Council
• Councillor Hayley Gwilliam, Local Authority Age Friendly Network, Swansea Council
• Dereck Roberts, National Pensioners Convention
• Rachel Bowen, Office of the Older People's Commissioner
• Dilys Jouvenat, Older Person's Representative
• Rachel Luxton, Older Person's Representative
• Lyn Cadwalladr, One Voice Wales (town and community councils)
• Tania Harrington, Stonewall Cymru
• Peter Walters, Wales Seniors Forum
• Sarah Capstick, Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA)
• Amal Beyrouty, Women Connect First
• Rhiannon Ivens (RI), Welsh Government
• Rachel Lewis (RL), Welsh Government
• Gethin Edwards, Welsh Government
• Emma Harney, Welsh Government
• Nik Cilia, Welsh Government

Formal apologies

• Councillor Leo Thomson, local authority age friendly network, Cardiff Council
• Mirain Llwyd Roberts, local authority age friendly network, Gwynedd Council
• Brian Godsell, National Pensioners Convention
• Jim McManus, Public Health Wales
• Dawn Jeffery, Welsh Women's Aid

Vicki Lloyd noted that actions from the last meeting (18 September 2024) have either been completed or are ongoing. Members who were present at the meeting confirmed that they would like to be more involved in the Mental Health Plan.

Actions

• officials to confirm with policy colleagues who are working on the Mental Health Plan that MAFA members would like to be more involved

RL is part of a working group to take forward recommendations from the ADSSC Review of the impact of the pandemic on day opportunities across Wales:

• Review of Day Opportunities and Respite/Short Break Services report 

A written statement outlining this work was published earlier this year:

• Written Statement: Day Opportunities Review Report (4 March 2024) | GOV.WALES

The group has drafted a questionnaire to gather information from service users on their current experiences of day opportunities and whether they meet their personal needs. A key part of this work will be sharing and promoting good practice. 

Actions

• members to circulate questionnaire to networks on behalf of Welsh Government and to forward any examples of good practice to the Older People’s Rights Team

Stephanie Davies and Deian ap Rhisiart from Cwmpas presented on their work to increase digital inclusion for older people. Their presentation is included in the email alongside this meeting note.

The following key points were noted:

• there is a lack of consistent support across Wales
• Digital Communities Wales (DCW) asked all members to help them raise awareness of their offer amongst their groups and organisations
• there is still a big issue around affordability, especially as a result of the cost-of-living crisis
• social tariffs do not appear to have worked and it is extremely difficult to get individuals onto a social tariff
• there is always going to be a proportion of people who will need help and support as technology continues to evolve
• online safety was discussed as a big concern for older people
• Wales Against Scams Partnership (WASP) are connected to DCW
• any groups or organisations that would like to contact DCW should contact officials who will make the connections

Actions

• officials to circulate the Cwmpas presentation along with the note of this meeting
• any MAFA members who would like to contact DCW to let officials know and we will make the connections

The following key points were noted:

• there has been a delay in publishing the delivery plan update due to internal governance beyond the control of officials, however a narrative report has been published today (2 December 2024) which pulls out the key issues that are affecting older people
• these areas were agreed with MAFA earlier this year
• should members of the public want to see the longer, more detailed report, it will be made available on request
• the full report has also been shared with MAFA prior to the meeting and can be cascaded via networks
• officials acknowledged the detailed questions that have been posed by Dereck Roberts, National Pensioners Convention (NPC)
• these questions will be answered by relevant officials and an update will be provided
• figures have been submitted by each local authority which show that there is a significant number of older people benefitting from age friendly communities funding (£1.1 million across Wales) and are being connected to local services
• reference was made to the winter fuel payments, the Scottish Government are to reinstate this for older people in Scotland
• a question was asked as to what Wales are going to do
• officials said that they would make enquiries and update the group
• question was asked as to whether a funding bid for One Voice Wales had been successful
• officials agreed to update One Voice Wales following clarification

Actions

• officials to respond directly to Dereck Roberts regarding request for information regarding the delivery plan update
• officials to speak to colleagues who lead on winter fuel allowance policy to find out whether Wales will follow the Scottish Government in funding winter fuel allowance
• officials to clarify funding position with One Voice Wales

The Minister for Children and Social Care addressed the group, thanking them for feeding into the work that is contained within the newly published delivery plan update.

The following key points were noted:

• the Strategy for an Ageing Society is a cross-cutting strategy that involves many policy teams across government
• every strategy or plan that is produced will consider older people in some way, for example the LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales and the Anti Racist Wales Action Plan
• there are sometimes many layers and information regarding older people, whilst not apparent in the main document, may be included in supporting delivery plans
• members should let officials know of any specific plans where it is felt that older people are not included and officials will investigate
• every policy is impact assessed
• there are also officials who are responsible for developing the Strategic Equality Plan and Welsh Government has links across the key policy teams
• a number of areas were indicated as being priorities for 2025:
  • transport
  • health
  • social care (including reablement and domiciliary care)
  • digital inclusion
  • cost of living
  • housing and maintenance
  • cashless society
  • adult safeguarding (including abuse, neglect and self-neglect)
• it was acknowledged that Welsh Government does not have the key economic levers to make decisions to affect the cost of living as this is led by the UK government

Actions

• MAFA members to inform officials of any plans where it is felt that older people have not been considered and officials to make enquiries with individual policy teams

There was no further business and the meeting concluded.