Liz Lynne MEP launches project to tackle social inclusion of older people.

2.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 20th Oct 2008

Local Euro MP Liz Lynne visited Wolverhampton on Friday to launch a pioneering EU backed project to tackle social exclusion among older people and share best practice on how to deal with the growing problem.

Wolverhampton is the only city in England taking part in the URBACT II project, which seeks to encourage stronger communication between European cities and the exchange of ideas on how to combat pressing social issues such as social deprivation and exclusion.

The project, which is also being backed by Wolverhampton City Council, was brought to Wolverhampton by PISCES West Midlands, a group specialising in seeking out funding opportunities in the region.

The LibDem MEP for Wolverhampton and the West Midlands welcomed the scheme as a fantastic opportunity for Wolverhampton to become a European leader in dealing with issues affecting older people.

Liz Lynne MEP said:

"I think Wolverhampton's involvement in this project is not only a testament to how much it has done in identifying the issues concerning older people, and the need to use their talents, but also how much potential the city has to achieve even greater things in this field.

On the issue of social exclusion among older people Liz said that more was needed to be done to include people over 60 in society:

"Without including older people in society, how are we to recognise when older people are struggling? How are we to recognise or know when older people are suffering from malnutrition because they don't have the money to feed themselves?

"How are we to know when older people are being subjected to emotional or physical abuse? We need to isolate the problems we encounter and find practical ways in which to deal with them.

"We do not have to reinvent the wheel to do this, and that is what the URBACT II project is all about- being able to look at what other countries do well and learn and adapt these experiences to fit our own particular set of challenges."

PISCESwm director John White said that the URBACT II project would make a significant impact on age related issues both in Wolverhampton, and the region as a whole:

"An awful lot of work has gone into bringing this scheme to the city, but this is only the beginning. In the coming weeks and months we will continue to examine the ways in which we can change how older people are treated by society, we will be meeting with the other nine cities to share ideas and will be working throughout Wolverhampton to make the changes that are needed."

ENDS