Scottish Older People’s Assembly (SOPA) 2011

Tuesday 25th October
Edinburgh International Conference Centre

This year’s event

This year’s Scottish Older People’s Assembly takes place on Tuesday 25th October 2011 at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC). This is a one-day conference for older people and their representatives, supported by the Scottish Government and arranged by the Scottish Older People’s Assembly Steering Group. It is an opportunity for older people from across Scotland to debate key issues of interest and concern.

“This is an event organised by older people, for older people. The programme is yours, the day is yours …. contribute positively and help us make this year’s Assembly a success” (Scottish Government)

“We are very keen to build on the previous Assemblies. We want people to enjoy the day and look forward to meeting and talking to older people, getting a clear picture from them of their needs and hopes for the future. We want the third Assembly to be the best to date” (Scottish Older People’s Assembly Steering Group)

SOPA 2011 Programme

• The themes for this year’s Assembly include active ageing, personal finance and care and support linked to the Scottish Government’s Reshaping Care for Older People programme for change
• Our keynote speaker is Nicola Sturgeon MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Cities Strategy and Steve Webb MP, Minister of State for Pensions, will speak at the event via a video link from Westminster
• Our programme will include presentations via the video link from Highland Senior Citizens’ Network and Dumfries & Galloway Seniors Forum
• The Scottish Youth Parliament and older people from Edinburgh’s A City for All Ages group will discuss “The Voice of a Generation – Are You Being Heard?”
• We will have a video link to older people from House in the Park, Hamburg in Germany showcasing the work of this care complex
• Exhibition stands include Age Scotland, Care and Repair Scotland and Edinburgh, the Centre for Cognitive Ageing and the Scottish Centre for Intergenerational Practice

Older people’s groups and organisations from across Scotland have been invited to send representatives to the Assembly and the Steering Group expects this will be a popular event.

For further information and to find out if places are still available use our contact details on this page.

The Scottish Older People’s Assembly Steering Group invited the City of Edinburgh Council (A City for All Ages) to help with the arrangements for this year’s event. This is the third Scottish Older People’s Assembly to take place and will be the first to include video conferencing.