We recently met with Siobhan Casey, the Older People’s Commissioner for Northern Ireland, to discuss some of the key issues facing older people and to share ideas about how we can strengthen the voice of older people across the UK. The meeting also built on the positive relationship already established between the Commissioner and the CSPA Northern Ireland Branch, following her attendance at the Branch AGM in 2025 and ongoing engagement with members there.
The discussion covered a wide range of topics, including digital exclusion, public transport, access to health and social care, and the wider challenges of an ageing society. There was particular concern about services being hidden behind digital “walls”, making them difficult for many older people to access.
We heard about the work being carried out in Northern Ireland on issues such as no-fault evictions, age-friendly communities, community care, and ensuring older people are properly recognised in government planning. COPNI is also preparing new reports on the impact of an ageing society and on older workers.
The meeting was also a useful opportunity to talk about how organisations representing older people can work more closely together across the UK and Ireland. Importantly, we discussed how the successful Older People’s Commissioner models in Northern Ireland and Wales can help support our campaign for similar commissioners in England and Scotland.
Overall, it was a very positive meeting and another step forward in our campaign to ensure older people in England and Scotland have the same strong, independent voice that already exists in Northern Ireland and Wales.
