THREE quarters of pensioners living in Northern Ireland are concerned about keeping warm this winter, a new report has revealed.

Results from the study, launched by older people’s charity Age Sector Platform, show that the number one concern for pensioners across the province was staying warm and rising energy costs.

This was followed by money worries, fear of crime, food prices and loneliness/boredom.

The document also contains 24 approved recommendations for MLAs and councillors to consider, such as regulating the oil industry to cut soaring energy costs and allocating older people places on the new Community Safety and Policing Partnerships to reduce fear of crime.

The report is based on the findings of the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament, a forum where older people can debate and highlight issues that matter to them.

Seven local parliaments were held across Northern Ireland between March and April this year, with a two-day regional parliament taking place in Belfast in June.

The report, which includes a survey of 1,200 pensioners, has been described as the “true voice” of older people in Northern Ireland.

Patricia Donald, chair of Age Sector Platform, said it was time pensioners’ concerns were taken on board by politicians and energy providers.

“Earlier this year, the first minister and deputy first minister helped us launch the Northern Ireland Pensioners Parliament.

“We now require a commitment from the NI executive and assembly, the Westminster government and from our service providers that the recommendations arising from the parliament will be taken seriously.”

She added that momentum has been building around the key issues prior to the publication of the report.

“The charity’s ‘Fight the Winter Fuel Cut’ campaign in opposition to the cut to the winter fuel payment this year has gained over 16,000 supporters since it was launched two weeks after the parliament.”

Members of the Pensioners’ Parliament (MPPs) are due to travel to Stormont to present the recommendations from the report to the relevant government departments later this month.

Age Sector Platform (ASP) was established in 2008 to be a strong unified voice for older people in Northern Ireland.

It has a membership base of 30 older people’s organisations and networks which represent approximately 200,000 older people across Northern Ireland.

Last month, representatives from Age Sector Platform travelled to Westminster to present a petition to pensions minister Steve Webb MP over the proposed cuts to the winter fuel payments .

“During our meeting with the pensions minister, we emphasised the strength of feeling on this issue by the people of Northern Ireland,” said Nixon Armstrong.

“We also spoke of the unique challenges facing older people across the province in relation to heating their homes – such as the reliance on home heating oil, the lack of support from energy companies here and therefore the higher levels of fuel poverty.

“Memories of last winter and the freezing temperatures we all experienced are forefront in our minds – and fears that a similar winter may be ahead of us makes this issue all the more important.

“This campaign will not end until the UK government acknowledges its mistake and reverses this callous decision. In the meantime, our assembly at Stormont must also recognise the emergency situation we are facing, and use its resources to ensure the most vulnerable members of our society do not die of the cold this winter.”
 

Source: Newsletter