Bracknell

Older Bracknell residents will be given an exclusive opportunity to ask questions about social care and support while putting forward their views on the future of Bracknell Forest at a free conference next month.

The Voice of Experience Conference will give all Bracknell Forest residents over the age of 50 the chance to ask the Council's Chief Executive and leading social services officers about care and support services on Friday, November 17.

Importantly, residents will also be able to give their views on what they would like to see happen in the future and how they would like services for older people develop.

The theme of the conference is Living Longer- Living Better and it will look at how life has changed since Bracknell was a fledgling new town 50 years ago; how it became the hub of technology and business it is today; and what it will be like in the future.

The conference is run by Bracknell Forest Borough Council in conjunction with the Bracknell Forest Senior Citizens' Forum and will feature talks by the Council Chief Executive, Timothy Wheadon, and Glyn Jones, Assistant Director of Community Care and Leader of the Council, Cllr Paul Bettison.

Timothy Wheadon, Chief Executive, will be speaking about the future outside the home during the conference where he will also give updates on what is happening with the regeneration of Bracknell town centre.

There will also be an opportunity to speak to regeneration staff about the plans during the lunch break so that older people’s views on the regeneration can also be taken on board.

Barbara Knight from Age Concern Bracknell Forest will be chairing the conference on Friday, November 17, while Bracknell Forest Borough Mayor and pensioners champion Cllr Clifton Thompson will formally introduce the event and open proceedings.

Representatives from charities, health, and the emergency services, the regeneration team and the Your Homes, Your Choice -the way forward project will be around to provide advice and practical information throughout the day.

Daphne Obang, Director of Bracknell Social Services and Housing, said: "From the 2004 conference we know that many of our older residents want to be more involved in how we plan future services.

"This conference will give our older residents the unique opportunity to come together and tell us what services, care and support they want in Bracknell Forest in the future - which will then help shape the way we look at providing services.

"There will also be the opportunity to ask questions on a variety of topics including health, wellbeing, support and the future of Bracknell Forest and the town centre.

Cllr Dale Birch, Executive Member for Bracknell Adult Services, Health Commissioning and Housing, said: "Engaging with our older residents is very important as we need to make sure our services fit in with what they want and how they want to be supported.

"This conference will give them the chance to tell us their views as well as listen to what is going on in the borough and so I urge everyone over the age of 50 to attend and join in."

Bracknell Forest Borough Council