Category: East
TV
Date: 23.05.2005
Printable version
The 91Èȱ¬ in the east of England and key partners in the
region are launching a campaign called Taking It On.
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It aims to prepare people for living longer and working
longer in the east of England, which already has a higher than average
proportion of people aged 45 and over, and where the 50-plus age group
is set to grow by 30 per cent in the next 20 years.
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The on-air campaign is being launched today (Monday
23 May) with a competition.
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It's also hitting the streets with a fun and interactive
road-show kicking off on Friday 27 May in Cambridge as part of Adult
Learners' Week.
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Six 91Èȱ¬ local radio stations (91Èȱ¬ Radio Northampton,
91Èȱ¬ Radio Cambridgeshire, 91Èȱ¬ Radio Norfolk, 91Èȱ¬ Radio Suffolk, 91Èȱ¬
Essex and 91Èȱ¬ Three Counties Radio) are running
the Taking It On competition, to find the best stories surrounding issues
around ageing.
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Listeners can write or phone in to their local 91Èȱ¬
Action Desk with ideas based on their own experiences, thoughts or dreams.
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A winner will be selected for each station and invited
to become a reporter for a day. They will be given help to prepare their
idea and it will be broadcast by their local radio station.
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All six stories will be heard across the region in a
special, one-off local radio simultaneous broadcast on Thursday 9 June,
presented by 91Èȱ¬ Look East's Stewart White.
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The listening public can then vote for an overall winner
who will make a report for television for 91Èȱ¬ Look East.
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Stewart is launching the roadshow at Christ's Pieces
in Cambridge on 27 May - which is also 'Silver Surfers' Day' - with
a six-piece jazz band featuring mature musicians.
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There will be a pair of entertaining street theatre
characters to help people to "take it on", and a "morphing"
experience that uses computer software to suggest how people will look
when they grow older.
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Visitors will also have the opportunity to get to grips
with the basics of Information Technology aboard Age Concern's computer
bus, and have the chance to win a laptop computer.
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Radio Cambridgeshire will be broadcasting on the day,
working with a range of local partners to explore the changes, choices,
challenges and chances facing an older population.
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Stewart says: "I look forward to launching Taking
It On at Christ's Pieces in Cambridge, and encouraging people to enter
our on-air competition. Age is an important issue which we all need
to take on board. None of us are getting any younger!"
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All six 91Èȱ¬ local radio stations will be broadcasting
from the roadshow venues and there will be the opportunity for people
to meet some of the region's favourite broadcasters.
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Listeners can find out more by calling their local 91Èȱ¬
Action Desk on 0845 045 5678 (calls are charged at local rate).
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The Taking It On roadshow is being run by volunteer
and social action broadcast charity CSV Media. It is being supported
by the East of England Development Agency, the Department for Work and
Pensions, Age Concern, Help the Aged, Jobcentre Plus and the National
Institute for Adult Continuing Education (NIACE).
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It will call at a total of 17 venues during June and
July and deliver a range of information and advice about working and
learning for longer in a fun, informal way.
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Roadshow dates and venues:
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| Friday 27 May |
Cambridge |
Christ's Pieces |
| Friday 3 June |
Corby |
New Post Office Square |
| Saturday 4 June |
Milton Keynes |
The Centre MK |
| Wednesday 8 June |
Luton |
Market Hill |
| Thursday 9 June |
Ipswich |
Cornhill |
| Friday 10 June |
Great Yarmouth |
Market Square |
| Saturday 11 June |
King's Lynn |
Saturday Market |
| Thursday 16 June |
Bedford |
Harpur Square |
| Friday 17 June |
Basildon |
Town Square |
| Saturday 18 June |
Southend (Essex) |
High Street |
| Thursday 23 June |
Lowestoft |
London Road North |
| Friday 24 June |
Peterborough |
Cathedral Square |
| Wednesday 29 June |
Northampton |
Abington Street |
| Friday 1 July |
Stevenage |
Town Square |
| Saturday 2 July |
Chelmsford |
High Street |
| Thursday 7 July |
Clacton on Sea |
Christmas Island |
| Friday 8 July |
Norwich |
The Forum |
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Fascinating facts and figures:
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Many people over the age of 50 haven't upgraded their skills since leaving
full-time education
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37 per cent of 50 to 64-year-olds are not qualified to a level that
equates to five or more GCSEs at Grade C or above
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As many as a quarter of 50 to 64-year-olds in the region who are keen
to work aren't finding satisfactory paid employment
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There is a skills gap at both ends of the labour market in this region
- that over-50s can help to fill
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The number of workers aged 64-plus in this region has risen by 17.4
per cent since 2001
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An estimated quarter of a million people aged 50-plus who would welcome
paid employment in this region are currently failing to do so and are
classed as "discouraged workers or hidden unemployed"
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Age discrimination in employment and vocational training will be outlawed
by the end of 2006
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Retirement may not be the word used in the future. Many more people
are going to remain active for longer, and fewer will be able to rely
on their pensions
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As a rule of thumb, to achieve a pension of two-thirds of your current
salary you need to be saving a percentage that is equal to half your
age (so if you are 40, you need to save 20 per cent)
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Older workers are not necessarily looking for promotion or more money.
They may be looking for different kinds of challenges or career development,
or a life/work balance that includes shorter hours, job sharing, unpaid
leave, or reduced responsibility
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Facts and figures compiled from various sources including
the Department for Education and Skills and the East of England Development
Agency.
