The consultation, which is part of the Stockport Community Pride programme, aims to check the needs and priorities for Stockport’s 50 plus population. The overall findings will help the All Our Tomorrows Partnership, which brings together the Council, local voluntary sector and health agencies, improve the quality of life for local people.

The consultation will end with an event at Stockport Town Hall on Friday 7 March 2008. Members of the public will be able to join officers from the Council, Age Concern and the NHS to discuss the information gathered and help plan how it will be used to further develop the support available for older people in Stockport.

Councillor Maggie Clay, Executive Member for Adults & Health at Stockport Council, said: “So far the response from older people has been extremely encouraging. The feedback that we are collecting at the focus groups will provide us with the detailed information that we need to help shape new and existing services in areas that matter most to people aged over 50.”

Margaret Brade, Chief Executive of Age Concern Stockport and Chair of the All Our Tomorrows Board added: “We are delighted that so many people have taken the opportunity to get involved. The multi-agency event planned at the Town Hall in March will be an excellent opportunity to take part in the final stages of this consultation and we encourage people to come along to have their say about the things that they feel are important to them.”

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For more information on the 7 March event and to reserve your place, phone Maria Kildunne at Age Concern on 0161 480 1211 or click here to send an email.

News Release September 2007 OVERWHELMING RESPONSE TO QUESTIONNAIRES Staff at Age Concern Stockport have been overwhelmed with responses to a questionnaire aimed at gathering the views of local people aged 50 plus. Pictured right are Margaret Brade and Maria Kildunne from Age Concern Stockport with Cllr Maggie Clay, The Council's Executive Member for Adults and Health.

So far, around 1500 completed questionnaires have been returned. Staff are sifting through the responses to find out what older people in Stockport think about key issues such as housing, getting out and about, health and healthy living, social networks and information, and income.

The questionnaire, which has been funded in part by monies from Stockport Council’s Community Pride initiative, is the first part of a public consultation carried out by the multi-agency 'All Our Tomorrows' Partnership to check if the needs and priorities for Stockport's 50-plus have changed since the partnership was set up in 2004.

The results will be used to highlight key issues at focus groups planned over the next few months. The overall findings will help the Partnership to plan for a variety of services, support and activities in the future.

The dates and venues of the focus groups are to be confirmed but if anyone is approaching, or over, 50 years of age and would like to be involved, contact Maria Kildunne at Age Concern Stockport on 0161 480 1211.

Councillor Maggie Clay, Executive Member for Adults & Health said: "I am delighted at the fantastic response to this first stage of this consultation process. The next steps include focus groups and informal discussions which will provide an invaluable opportunity to find out whether our current strategy for older people is making a difference in the areas that matter most to our over 50s. This in turn will help us to decide where our efforts need to be focused in the future."

Margaret Brade, Chief Executive, Age Concern Stockport and Chair of the All Our Tomorrows Board, added: "We are very excited about the tremendous response from the over 50's consultation. The number of questionnaire responses demonstrates just how keen Stockport residents are to be involved in activities that concern them, and it is a positive step towards shaping existing and new services for older people in ways which respond to their views."