Inverness pensioners rights campaigners win award
From left: Jo Cowan, development officer north, Age Scotland, Dr Ian McNamara, of the Highland Senior Citizens’ Network with Sheila MacKay.
TWO local campaigners have won an award for their work they do for pensioners.
Sheila MacKay and Molly Doyle from the Highland Senior Citizens’ Network have received Age Scotland’s Jess Barrow Award for excellence in campaigning on behalf of older people.
Founder members of the Network, they have campaigned since 1996 to ensure the voices of older people in the region are heard by decision makers. The Network now comprises more than 60 groups and is routinely approached by public bodies including Highland Council who seek the views of older people on a wide range of issues including care in the community, care homes, health care and access to transport.
Molly, in addition to her roles as secretary and treasurer, organises the annual conferences and produces a bi-monthly newsletter which is distributed to more than 2000 individuals, including MPs and MSPs, across the Highlands.
Molly said: “What I enjoy most about my work with Highland Senior Citizens’ Network is going out to speak with groups across the area and hearing all about their local issues. They make us very welcome.”
Sheila added: “With the Highlands being such a large, diverse area, we have had to work hard at reaching out to as many communities as possible, listening and supporting, where we can, with information on ways to raise their issues and to seek solutions. Our Chairman, Dr Ian McNamara, has been a tremendous support through all our campaigning and is a wonderful advocate for better care of older people.”
Jo Cowan, Age Scotland’s local development officer joined Dr McNamara to present Sheila’s award at an event in Inverness last week. She said: “Age Scotland aims to empower and support older people, but without Sheila, Molly, and others like them with the dedication and determination to take action and drive change, our efforts would be pointless. We congratulate them both on a very well deserved award.”
From left: Jo Cowan, development officer north, Age Scotland, Dr Ian McNamara, of the Highland Senior Citizens’ Network with Sheila MacKay.
