Long-standing councillor selected as Older Person Champion for Milton Keynes City Council

He aims to work with older people to help them live healthy, fulfilling lives and raise the profile of older people's needs in council policies and promote positive images of older individuals in the community.

Councillor David Hopkins has been a stalwart figure in Milton Keynes politics since becoming a Wavendon parish councillor in 1979 and serving as mayor of Milton Keynes in 2017. He had represented the Danesborough area since 1990 and is currently mayor of Woburn Sands.

He said: “Whatever the issue under discussion, I intend making sure that the needs, wishes and preferences of older people are taken fully into account. To achieve this and ensure that older people are at the heart of our council’s activity, we have a dedicated older person champion.

“With Milton Keynes aging population, it’s more important than ever that the views of the area’s older people are represented so they can continue to play a full and active role in our communities, he added.

“One of the best ways we can achieve this is through an intergenerational approach, encouraging our older and younger people to share their experiences and perspectives to find solutions for common challenges.

“I would like to thank my fellow Elected Members for appointing me to this role and I can’t wait to get started and hopefully start to make a real difference.”

Cllr Hopkins’ role will include:

> Assist the Leader and the relevant Lead Member by advising on service issues which support and encourage active, independent and healthy lives for older people and to raise the profile of older people and their needs in the development of policy across all areas of the Council.

> Act as a spokesperson to promote the positive aspects of the council’s work with Older People.

> Encourages Older People to play a fuller role in shaping the policies of the Council and in designing its service.

> Work to promote positive images of Older People as citizens, and to combat stereotyping and age discrimination.

> Forge and maintaining links locally with Older People’s Networks.

Cllr Hopkins will also participate in the network of Older People’s Champions across the UK and engage with other key local and national organisations.