The SPF held our first online annual conference in June 2021 and it was great to meet up with our members and affiliates to discuss the many issues affecting older people across Scotland, albeit digitally Guest speakers included Lynne Campbell from Glasgow’s Golden Generation, who gave a passionate speech on the charity’s work on behalf of older people during the pandemic and Eireann McAuley, STUC Equalities Policy Officer. who spoke on the need for generations to work more closely together.

Motions to conference included one from Unite Scottish Retired Members Committee calling for residential care for older people to be brought back into public ownership and from Elinor McKenzie calling for an appropriate enquiry on the discharge of elderly patients from hospitals to care homes during the early weeks of the Covid 19 pandemic. The content of both of these motions will be included in the SPF work plan moving forward.

Although the conference went really well, its not the same as all being together in person. Our annual conference is an important event in our calendar and we always look forward to welcoming our delegates and engaging in a healthy debate which helps shape our work for the year ahead Fingers crossed we will all get to meet in person to celebrate our 30th year in 2022.