National Updates
Recruitment of a new Chair for Cymru Older People's Alliance
COPA is a small national registered charity run by older people for older people in Wales. We are the “national voice” for local older people’s forums and want to make sure that older people are listened to and their opinions acted on in everything that affects us.
COPA wants to recruit a new Chair to lead the Board of Trustees from across Wales. The Board of Trustees guides the direction of COPA as it develops and implements an agenda to forge a more impactful voice for older people, working closely with 50+ Forums in local authority areas. We are looking for a new Chair with the knowledge, experience, and skills of a role in a Charity or Business or Community Organisation. We are keen to attract individuals who would improve the diversity of our Board. You do not need to be an older person to apply.
COPA would like to invite any individuals who may be interested in becoming Chair of our Board to contact us by email on Cymru.older.peoples.alliance@gmail.com. This is an opportunity to directly influence and contribute to the work of a charity that is making a difference to the lives of older people across Wales. There is no payment for being a Chair, but COPA will cover expenses. A recruitment pack is available. Information on COPA is available on their website.
A key role for the new Chair will be in leading COPA as a charity through the next stage of its development. We have evolved over the last few years through a process of strategic review that has led to a new Marketing and Communications Strategy and changes to the Board structure and responsibilities.
The next stage will be to implement this new direction including securing new funding sources to increase our capacity, extend our partnership with 50 plus Forums, and continue to ensure we meet the high standards established for the governance of our charity.
This is an exciting but challenging time for COPA. At a national level, the Chair will have a vital role in leading discussions with Welsh Government and the Commissioner for Older People on all of the issues important to older people and working in partnership with other organisations as a member of the Ministerial Advisory Forum on Ageing (MAFA) and other advisory groups. Our voice at the national level is always informed by the views of local 50+ Forums across Wales.
The new Chair would join COPA as a Nominated (co-opted) trustee. This is a separate category of Trustee who are required to provide knowledge, skills, and experience that the Elected Trustees do not have (or do not possess sufficiently). For example, expertise in one or more of running a charity, about age and ageing policy and professional practice, service delivery, leadership, change management, marketing, finance, law etc. The deadline for applications is 31 March 2025. We are aiming for the successful candidate to become Chair of COPA by June 2025.
COPA (January 2025)
Have your say and help deliver positive change for older people
The Older People’s Commissioner wants to hear from you about any issues or challenges that make growing older in Wales more difficult and about the changes and improvements you’d like see.
The Commissioner is developing her strategy and work plan and will use evidence shared by older people to determine the action she delivers and the key areas her work will focus on.
You may want to highlight something you are concerned or worried about or share an example of something that works well that could be introduced in other parts of Wales. What you share could be based on your own experiences or the experiences of your family and friends.
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales, Rhian Bowen-Davies, said: “I want Wales to lead the way in empowering older people, tackling inequality and enabling everyone to live and age well and as Commissioner I have a key part to play in making this vision a reality.
“It’s crucial that the action I take as Commissioner is guided by older people’s voices and experiences, which is why I’m inviting older people to get in touch to highlight the issues affecting their lives and share their views and ideas about the changes and improvements that would make a positive difference.
“I want to hear from as many older people as possible from different backgrounds and communities across Wales so please do spend a few minutes completing my questionnaire if you can.
“Any information you share will be hugely valuable as I develop my strategy and work plan and take action with my team to transform policy and practice in a range of key areas.”
Make your voice heard:
You can respond to the Commissioner’s questionnaire in a number of ways.
You can download a copy of the questionnaire or complete it online:
Older People's Commissioner for Wales: Have Your Say
If you’d like a hard copy of the questionnaire, which can be returned via freepost, please call 03442 640 670 or email ask@olderpeople.wales.
Alternatively, if you’d prefer to talk about your experiences with a member of the Commissioner’s team over the phone, please call 03442 640 670.
Rhian Bowen-Davies,
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales (December 2024)
Message from Helena Herklots Older People’s Commissioner for Wales
I complete my term of office as the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales on 19 August. It has been an honour and a privilege to serve as the Commissioner and to have the opportunity to work with older people and organisations throughout Wales to protect and promote the rights of older people.
I am pleased to enclose a copy of my report giving an overview of the impact of the work over the last six years. The report shows that, despite the challenges of the Covid pandemic and the cost of living crisis we have made progress in tackling some deep-rooted and longstanding problems experienced by older people, as well as initiating new work to enable us to age well. Progress has been made by ensuring older people’s experiences and expertise is at the heart of the work, and through working with many organisations and individuals who have given their time and commitment to working in a common cause. I would like to place on record my heartfelt thanks to everyone I have worked with, and to my dedicated team.
As I step down, the Deputy Commissioner, Kelly Davies, will assume responsibility until the new Commissioner, Rhian Bowen-Davies starts in post on 30 September.