Older People's Contribution to the Community

One of the great success stories of modern times is that we are all living longer. This is great news for us all as the whole community will benefit enormously from the many contributions that older people make to our communities. It is vital to stress this because of the prejudice and especially ageism that older people  regularly have to face. Older people make a major contribution through for example: their leadership and membership of many local organisations, groups and societies; their contribution to community safety through Neighbourhood Watch and helping children travel to school safely and contributing to childcare for their families. Whilst these cannot be easily quantified in cash terms, they are no less valuable and vital and must be recognised as such. The vision on the island of Ireland must be of it being an age friendly country in which people as they get older are valued and supported to live to their fullest potential with their rights respected and their dignity protected. We instruct the ICTU to campaign and support this motion. Adopted

Fermanagh Trades Council