How We Work

The work priorities identified by Future Years will primarily be carried out through the Executive and Working Groups. Working Groups will be established with a focused task to achieve and respond back to the Executive. Membership of the Working Groups will reflect the nature of the task and skills needed and will be offered as an opportunity to get involved with Future Years to those registered on the database.

The Work Priorities for Future Years

Age Management strategies

Increase the number of employers that have active age management strategies which include flexible retirement opportunities
Increase the sharing of good practice in age management strategies between public and private sectors
Regional policies and strategies must reflect a stronger awareness of the needs of the 50-69 year age group
Increase the number of employers that have active age management strategies which include flexible retirement opportunities

Health

Increase preventive health programmes in workplaces that enable older people to continue working with long-term health conditions using occupational health services
Promote further initiatives that support collaboration between primary care and local workplaces and occupational health services
Further promotion of the NHS disease management programme

Education

Targets for 50+ population to be included in the Framework for Regional Education and Skills Action (FRESA)
More active lobbying by regional agencies of central government on the needs of 50+ age group for lifelong learning and appropriate funding
An expansion of the number of local learning networks
Expand the workplace training projects that offer re-skilling and skills development for those 50+

Carers

increase in the number of projects for carers that combine increased access to lifelong learning and employment, throughout the region
develop innovative caring arrangements for dependants for those wishing to be in paid employment

Social Economy

Increase in monitoring of 50+ participation in voluntary and community activities, including participation in capacity building
Develop and enhance the skills base of those 50+ in supporting the development and changing role of the voluntary & community Sector across the region
An expansion of social enterprises that provide job brokerage/ recruitment services for older people (50+)

Employers across the region

Extension of the NHS Employability project to local authorities in the region
Dissemination of Improving Working Lives concept to employers
Pre-retirement courses to be actively promoted and take up monitored in all public sector organisations
Tool up[ the regions employers in preparation for the 2006 Age discrimination

Additional Research needed

Additional understanding of the differences of demographic change within the sub regions and specific community of interest issues e.g. older people from Black & minority ethnic communities
Those aged 50+ expectations in later life
?Economic and Social well being? what does this mean to those aged 50+ in Yorkshire & Humber
better understanding of the role that the 50-69 age group have in informal caring across the region
support needed for those aged 50+ wanting to become self employed

Develop the Future Years data base
Development of a regional Age Proofing Tool
Project development, Management & Admin support resources