Ministerial Advisory Forum for Ageing (MAFA)

Welsh Government has a long history of supporting older people in Wales, from the introduction of the first Strategy for Older People in Wales in 2003, to establishing the world's first Older People's Commissioner in 2008.

The introduction of new legislation in Wales such as the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 and the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2014 meant that previous policies were outdated. This change in the legislative landscape coupled with the knowledge that populations across the World, and indeed Wales, are living longer than ever before, meant that a new policy was needed for Wales to meet this global challenge.

The Ministerial Advisory Forum on Ageing (MAFA) was pivotal in the development of the Strategy for an Ageing Society. Launched in October 2021, the strategy adopts a rights-based approach that promotes equality and social justice across a range of policy areas and places the older people’s voice at the core of Welsh Government policy making. 

Our vision is for an age friendly Wales that celebrates age and, in line with the UN Principles for Older Persons, a nation that upholds the independence, participation, care, self-fulfilment and dignity of older people at all times.

A delivery plan to accompany the strategy was published in April 2022 and a progress update is published annually.

MAFA continues to monitor the implementation of the strategy. The forum also provides advice to Ministers on emerging issues affecting older people in Wales. 

MAFA will report to the Minister for Children and Social Care (MCSC) who has responsibility for older people within her portfolio.

MAFA will provide expert and informed advice to the MCSC and Welsh Government on the:

• progress and impact of the Strategy for an Ageing Society
• areas where additional action must be taken to improve the well-being older people
• new or emerging issues not referenced in the Strategy that could impact negatively on older people

MAFA will hold 4 virtual meetings of the core group each year, including 1 hybrid meeting that will allow members to meet face to face, should they wish. To ensure the voices of older people who do not take part in the formal structure of MAFA are also heard, funding is provided to Age Cymru to undertake engagement events in local community venues across Wales.

A chair, appointed by the MCSC, will drive the work of the forum and provide additional scrutiny. The chair will serve an initial period of 2 years but can continue subject to the agreement of MAFA members. The chair can make the decision to step down at any point.

No members or the Chair are publicly appointed.

The Older People’s Commissioner for Wales will have observer status. 

The core group will have a fixed membership of approximately 30 individuals. Membership will be 50% older people and 50% professionals. Membership will include representation from individuals with protected characteristics, for example older women, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities, and older LGBTQ+ members. All core group members will be expected to:

• represent their organisations or representative groups at meetings and use this as a basis for providing informed advice
• feed back to their organisations or representative groups following meetings
• influence a positive culture in their respective organisations to encourage action to support an ageing population
• provide a focus and impetus for the debate of and support for the development of effective policies to benefit older people
• share good practice from their organisations or representative groups
• challenge and discuss ideas and policies respectfully

Each of the 4 national organisations representing older people (COPA, National Pensioners Convention Cymru, Active Wales and Wales Seniors Forum) are core members of MAFA. To ensure fair representation, each chair of their respective organisation will be expected to attend every meeting. On occasion, if this is not possible then the chair can nominate a deputy of similar seniority to attend on their behalf. One extra representative per organisation may also attend to ensure diversity amongst attendees and to ensure that a variety of voices are heard. This additional representative should be rotated every 6 months to allow for further diversification.

Additional older members will be appointed to the forum where necessary to ensure membership reflects the diversity of older people in Wales.

Members may wish to invite other organisations to contribute to the development of specific aspects of the work programme as necessary. This will involve the establishment of subgroups for undertaking specific pieces of work.

Travel and subsistence will be paid to older members only who attend meetings in a voluntary capacity. The cost of overnight stays may be available on request depending on individual circumstance or distance travelled.