Rebecca Harris MP for Castle Point met with older people from across the country at an event in Parliament organised by the charity Age UK.  The Age Champions event held in Parliament was an opportunity for MPs to speak with older people and charity workers about many of the issues affecting people in later life, and what Government and communities can do in the coming years to make the UK and Castle Point a better place to grow older.

Rebecca said: “I’m glad to be an Age Champion and raise these important issues in Parliament”

Rebecca Harris heard about the opportunities and challenges of an ageing population and ‎about a number of issues being faced by many in later life, including loneliness and isolation, long term health conditions and ‎living on a fixed income.

Caroline Abrahams, Age UK’s Charity Director, drew attention to the difficulties faced by people in midlife who have to juggle working with caring for a loved one, and Penny Pullinger, from Age UK South Lakeland, described how she is working to prevent loneliness in her area.  Rt. Hon Stephen Crabb, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, urged everyone to listen to older people and celebrate our longer lives and the opportunities they are bringing for us as individuals and as a society.

Throughout the event MPs learned more about how Age UK can help them to improve the lives of older people in their constituencies and make the most of their role as an 'Age Champion'. 

For more information about your local Age UK and Age UK's work more generally please visit www.ageuk.org.uk ‎