workshop delivered at SMART event
please note this presentation was delivered as speaker support material and is intended for reference by attendees not for use as a stand-alone resource
1. What do we do when all
the old people die?
Planning for
Succession
community activity
2. Why is the population getting
older?
• Baby Boomers – 17million births between 1946 – 1964 – this is
the group that are now retiring
• Fewer children being born (changing work patterns mean that
women are working longer and families are being started later
and smaller families are the norm)
• People live longer and are more healthy
• Technology
3. Quiz
• In 2007 the number of people aged over 65 outnumbered
those under 16 for the time in history ?
• True
• Within 20 years half of all adults in England will be over 50
(40% of the total)
• True
• Urban is aging faster than rural
• False
• By 2034 -23% of the population in the UK will be over 65
• True
4. Quiz
• Which age group is more likely to volunteer?
• 35-49 (47% formally volunteer)
• More males volunteer than females
• False (38% males 42% females)
• There are currently 4 people of working age supporting
each pensioner – How many will there be by 2050?
• 2
• Is this just happening in Britain?
• No – worldwide – China having to reconsider the 1 child
rule as they have fewer workers
5. What are the implications?
• Older people form increasing proportion of the electorate and
are more likely to vote than young people
• Future generations will be healthier and more active but will
work for longer whether they want to or not – leading to
reduction in available volunteers?
• Increased need for long term care and health needs less money
available and more pressure for families to support elderly
• Younger people not available to volunteer as they are needed to
care for elderly family
• More elderly people in poverty
• Older people increasingly dependent on a declining working
population
• Increased immigration needed to meet care needs
• Young people become a Lost generation with no voice as they
are in the minority
6. Think about
Your Community…..
• How ‘old’ is your Parish Council?
• Who volunteers and what for?
• Why do they volunteer?
• How do you recruit at the moment?
7. The Future?
• What is needed?
• Recognise the need to change
• More diverse range of volunteers
• Different ways to recruit
• Valuing the whole community
• More flexible working and volunteering
arrangements to accommodate all ages
• What else?
8. Succession Planning
• We need to be proactive
• Localism means that Parish Councils will be
expected to know more, do more, be more
• Do you want to be doing this at 80?
• Do you want 80 year olds making decisions
on yours and your children’s behalf?
9. Mapping Your Village
Have a think about your village and consider the
following headings;
1) Who have you got?
• Demographic split – bespoke recruitment for your village needed
2) Where are the gaps?
• ICT, missing volunteers, youth groups, age specific issues
3) What have you got?
• schools, surgeries, nurseries, business etc.
4) How can you use them?
• Can you get school children/parents to help?
• Opportunities for experience for unemployed
• Business support/mentoring
10. Exercise – 15 minutes
• Scenario – A new law has been
passed (imaginary) which requires
Parish Councils to have at least one
young person under the age of 25
• Consider 5 steps which you will take
to make this happen
12. Are you FLEXIVOL?
• In 1997 the Institute for Volunteering Research created a
wish list for volunteering
• This acronym summarises the essential requirements of
16-24 year olds who wish to volunteer, they want their
volunteering experience to offer:
• Flexibility
• Legitimacy
• Ease of Access
• Xperience
• Incentives
• Variety
• Organisation
• Laughs
• Although designed for 16-24 year olds I think you will
agree that this applies to us all
Notas del editor
Right to Buy (communities to take over exiting local amenities) Right to Bid (Community assets shops, libraries, comm centre) Right to Challenge (running of services) Right to Build (Power to develop their local community including homes and facilities) Right to Approve or Veto excessive ctax rises