Legends of Entertainment and Sport Call for the Voices of Older People to be Heard

Legends from the world of entertainment and sport are supporting charity Independent Age in calling for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing

Footballer Sir Geoff Hurst, radio DJ Tony Blackburn, choreographer and theatre director Dame Arlene Phillips actor Don Warrington and TV chef Rustie Lee have added their voices to the campaign that calls for everyone to be able to feel part of society as we age

In a video launched yesterday (Monday 17 April), the well-known faces urge the government to appoint a commissioner to act as a champion for older people in England They also challenge the misconception that everyone in later life is enjoying a comfortable retirement as the stars spell out the hidden reality that more than 2 million older people are living in poverty, with many more struggling to make ends meet due to the costof-living crisis

The video will be shared as part of an event in Westminster today where Independent Age, a national charity focused on supporting older people facing financial hardship has joined with other charities and organisations to invite Members of Parliament to find out more about a Commissioner and show their support for the campaign

Dame Arlene Philips 79 has recently been honoured with an Olivier award She said:

“I have been one of the lucky ones, as now in my 80th year, I am still working in a job that I’m passionate about and wake up every morning wanting to go to work which I believe has gone a long way in helping me stay fit and healthy and inside feel younger than my chronological age

From communicating with my fellow older generation I ve learned of the truly distressing struggles of finding enough money to eat keeping the heating on finding anyone who’s going to help you when you can no longer do things for yourself

There are so many things that people need when they are ageing that are mostly ignored and many feel nobody is listening We urgently need someone dedicated who cares and will listen This is affecting more than 2 million older people in the UK and it needs looking at now A Commissioner for Older People and Ageing is urgently needed Someone to look into all of the issues that getting older puts on people, particularly when the country is in crisis

Tony Blackburn, 80 holds the title for being the longest serving radio DJ and hosts a Sunday show on BBC Radio 2 He said:

“I personally am aware that in this country there is ageism I luckily haven t come up against it although I think sometimes it’s forgotten that older people bring experience

Recently with the cost-of-living crisis and the price of electricity in particular I ve been really moved by watching the news and seeing older people not being able to heat their houses

Older people sitting there with blankets around themselves It really really shouldn t be like that in this country, there should be much more help Something’s got to be done about it ”

Sir Geoff Hurst 81 who scored the winning goal in the 1966 World Cup and has just finished an audience with’ theatre tour said

“I’m supporting the call for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing because from what I ve seen and heard over the last few months the impact of the cost of living is absolutely disastrous for older people I hear stories of people eating just one meal a day or not having the heating on in their homes These things are happening every day and it’s absolutely unbelievably difficult for older people to survive under these circumstances ”

Rustie Lee 73 who can regularly be seen cooking up Caribbean dishes on TV said:

“It’s so important for everyone who is struggling at the moment to know that someone is looking out for them It s shocking that for so many older people in the UK a hot meal has become an unaffordable luxury We all deserve the basics and more as we age which is why I m happy to support the call for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing ”

Don Warrington 71 who plays Commissioner Selwyn Patterson in hit BBC drama Death in Paradise said:

“I think things creep up on you gradually as you age and that is the thing about ageing Not fighting it necessarily but also not surrendering to some idea of ageing ”

More On The Campaign

Currently 11 million people in England are aged 65 or over In less than 20 years over 17 million (1 in 4) people will be over 65

If created a Commissioner would ensure that the long-term needs of people in later life and the challenges faced by the population as they age are considered in policy and practice across all government departments The role would work alongside the Older People s Commissioners for Wales and Northern Ireland to help make the UK the best place in the world to grow old

The campaign has the backing of more than 70 organisations who signed up to a consensus statement which launched in March this year It is also backed by the public In a recent YouGov poll commissioned by Independent Age nine in ten (89%) of people aged 65 and over said they would support the creation of a commissioner

John Palmer, Director of Policy and Influencing at Independent Age, said:

We hear from older people every day who are sitting in cold dark homes and only eating one hot meal a week as they simply cannot make ends meet anymore This is dangerous and shouldn’t be happening in modern Britain

We are incredibly grateful to Sir Geoff Tony Dame Arlene Don and Rustie for supporting our call for a Commissioner for Older People and Ageing and shining a light on the issues older people in poverty are experiencing every day

“It has never been more important for older people, who often tell us they feel invisible and like their views are ignored to have an independent champion at the heart of government who can ensure that none of us are left out of the conversation as we age ”