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Vickie Reilly, Jean Sheppard and Aileen McGinlay |
Pensioners find a voice at meeting
A PENSIONERS’ pop band from Maida Vale performed in St Mark’s Church in Marylebone on Tuesday.
The Open Age Singers, or W10 Warblers, went head-to-head with Islington-based elderly rockers The Zimmers at the annual meeting of Voluntary Action Westminster.
Mavis Harrison, one of the Warblers, said: “You could say that we’re just a bunch of old birds, really.”
June Wallem insisted “young birds” was a better description.
Presentations from research initiative the HOPE Project, which aims to empower older people to have a voice in the community, opened up a debate on the needs of the elderly.
“We wanted to find out the needs and aspirations of older persons,” project leader Ellora Khan said.
Volunteers led round-table talks at venues across Westminster.
More than 100 older people were consulted on issues such as access to information, the use of services and social isolation. Findings will be published later this year. |
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