1. Influencing government policies
5 March 2014
Jeremy Porteus
Director
Housing LIN

2. “We are woefully underprepared for an ageing society….”
Ready for Ageing?
“We are woefully underprepared for an ageing society….”
Select Committee on Public Service and Demographic Change, Lord Filkin (2013)

3. Traditional means of influencing
Ballot box eg general elections, bi-elections, referenda etc
Lobbying your MP eg meetings, visits, surgeries, letters etc
Responding to consultations eg Green Papers, White Papers, Task Force or other stakeholder engagement exercises etc
Debate in House of Commons or House of Lords, All Party Party Parliamentary Groups, Select Committee
Public speaking eg local events and conferences
National and local press

4. Collective mobilisation
Representations via organised body eg charity, trade or professional body
Representations via special interest group eg local community, faith or action group
Petitions
Canvassing on streets
Demonstrations and public show of support
Civil disobedience
However, increasing use of social media eg internet, facebook, twitter

5. Examples of collective mobilisation
Flooding of Somerset Levels
Protest of fuel levy
Poll tax
State pension
Welfare reform
In future, and increasing ‘grey’ vote

6. Examples of housing and care issues
Closure of a day centre or popular care home, especially if named after a local dignitary
Reduction in service provision or perceived quality
Objection to a new housing development
Rising fuel and energy costs
‘Privatisation’ of the NHS

7. Examples of positive action
Asset Based Community Development eg empowering local community to work together, use community skills, resources = ‘community builders’
Coproduction eg mutual and/or shared care
Volunteering and ‘good neighbour’
Cohousing and living with like-minded neighbours or community

8. Putting housing for older people on the map
Government policy has been ‘silent’ over last 6-7 years
Housing & Ageing Alliance
Older People’s champions group in every region
Local voluntary organisation eg Age UK, pensioners’ voice
Local residents’ associations
Local statutory committees eg planning, health and wellbeing, transport

9. Next election results Conservative government Labour government
ConDem coalition
LibLab coalition
Con/Ukip coalition
How many will take issues facing an ageing society seriously?
Key issues could be the NHS, Paying for Long Term Care, Interest rates, pensions and savings, other?

10. 3 questions for table-top discussions
Who are the key people you need to influence in the SW?
What are the burning housing and/or care issues for you?
How can you make it happen?