Achievements by The Senior Council for Devon in the first three years of operation:

Nationally, we have:

  • Been consulted by the Government on a number of health and transport issues
  • Joined the South West Regional Forum on Ageing in Devon 

 At county level, we have:

  • Ten representatives working in the Older People's Strategic Partnership with policy makers at Devon County Council and NHS Devon on identifying priorities for older people, and developing effective strategies to improve services to meet their needs
  • Held two successful and informative Dementia-awareness Days
  • Held consultations and information fairs on the Ageing Well in Devon Strategy
  • Responded to consultations on the National Dementia Strategy and became a member of the Devon Dementia Partnership Group
  • Printed and distributed 6,000 copies of the Dementia Carer's Pathway
  • Lobbied against the closure of post offices and pharmacies in GP surgeries
  • Participated in a Putting People First focus group, improving the quality of Devon County Council's  public information
  • Become part of a proof-reading group to make DCC's information more user-friendly
  • Held a successful conference to consider how we have moved on since 2007, broadcast live on BBC Radio Devon
  • Been involved in a new affordable Village Housing Initiative in South Devon
  • Worked to bridge the generation gap. A very successful intergenerational event in partnership with Devon Youth Service and Young Devon was held in November 2010. It was opened by John Hart, Leader of Devon County Council, and attended by 150 older and younger people.  We are hopeful that this is the beginning of joint working with young people across the county

 Locally, we have:

  • Established groups in 19 towns and districts
  • Held 12 Information Fairs
  • Held two Hobbies, Skills and Pastimes Fairs in Ivybridge
  • Held an Alternative Therapies Fair in Exmouth
  • Established a foot-care service in Ilfracombe
  • Campaigned for the improvement of the toilet facilities on Seaton seafront
  • Arranged access to the local park for a disabled resident in Ivybridge
  • Arranged drain clearance in Bideford
  • Set up computer classes for Senior Council members with the local college in Axminster
  • Achieved later Royal Devon & Exeter hospital appointment times for those travelling from Seaton
  • Intervened and succeeded in the erection of new road signs in Modbury
  • Held two Silver Surfers computer-training days in Ivybridge
  • Carried out a survey on the bus services in Exmouth
  • Arranged a poetry competition about grandparents and older relatives for school children in Holsworthy and Okehampton
  • Set up a Safer Streets group in Seaton
  • Held two Celebrating Seniors events in Honiton
  • Initiated the increase of the number of disabled parking spaces in Kingsbridge
  • Initiated the installation of seats at town-centre bus-stops in Teignmouth
  • Achieved the installation of a handrail on a steep slope in Axminster
  • Supported a group of  Honiton pensioners fighting to keep their  homes
  • Produced a Disability Guide to Dawlish
  • Instigated a Community Development Project in Bideford
  • Held two pre-election hustings' meetings in Cullompton and Tiverton in April 2010
  • Seaton Safer Streets group has had a barrier installed at edge of a car park to deter anti- social driving
  • Worked with Seaton's Voice community group to promote and support an Older and Bolder initiative
  • Two groups have responded to the Rural Health and Wellbeing strategy
  • The Ivybridge group has been consulted on the charges for non-residential care
  • Initiated the installation of a crossing at the entrance to the Co-op car park after consultation/liaison with Co-op departments in Seaton
  • Been involved with setting up the memory cafe and befriending group in conjunction with Torrage in Holsworthy
  • Have mobilised support to keep Brunel Lodge, Newton Abbot, or an alternative, open for local dementia sufferers
  • Held a successful community consultation around plans for a new school in Barnstaple
  • Persuaded a council not to charge people with disabled badges showing when they introduce parking meters to the town (Honiton)
  • Organised a meeting in Tiverton to explore the Alternative Vote
  • Moved On, the setting up of outdoor gym equipment in Seaton using Section 106 funding
  • Finally, after months of negotiation, been instrumental in the setting up of a CAB presence in Seaton
  • Set up a Mid-Devon committee to organise a Dementia Day in Tiverton July
  • Held two ‘End of Life' meetings in Exeter
  • Held a very successful Information Fair in Ivybridge
  • Bideford and Teignmouth groups are successfully developing intergenerational work
  • Ivybridge are having some success getting advertising removed from bus stops to improve safety
  • Ivybridge presented to the Walker Committee Review on water rates
  • Axminster are negotiating the installation of a second handrail on a treacherous slope

And in partnership with other organisations, we have:

  • Set up memory cafes in Great Torrington, Hatherleigh, Seaton and Axminster and assisted in the development of cafes in many other areas
  • Re-established the two-hourly Combe Martin to Barnstaple bus service
  • Established a Citizens Advice Bureau presence in Seaton
  • Have set up a volunteer befriending service in Holsworthy