The Torbay Citizens’ Assembly’s (TCA) primary objective is to provide an independent platform for residents to voice their interests and concerns, achieve change, and make Torbay the best place it can be for them to grow older in.
During the past eighteen months, members of the TCA have set up subcommittees to investigate the current situation for residents regarding Housing, Transport and Health, with their findings being brought to the Assembly’s quarterly Open meetings for further discussion and appropriate action.
The Assembly has been fortunate to be well supported by representatives from our statutory agencies, including Public Health, Healthwatch Torbay, Age UK Torbay, Carers, Torbay Communities, and Torbay Council, which has proven to be invaluable.
Discussions on Transport quickly identified that residents have several areas of interest where we could influence action: 1. Buses, 2. Trains, 3. Driving personal Vehicles, and 4. Highways. Several actions have been taken, including supporting Torbay Council to run a Community Transport forum twice a year, where residents can share experiences, concerns, see plans for improvements and new opportunities.
The housing group have been focusing on developers’ and planners’ need to ensure the RIGHT development, in the RIGHT place, at the RIGHT price, through the updating of Torbay Council’s Housing Strategy.
For residents, it is about encouraging people to think about “Ageing in Place” – is your home appropriate for you, or can it be made into a lifetime home? This includes aspects such as:
- Transport – Access to public transport
- Facilities – Shops, doctors, pharmacy and food stores
- Accessibility – Steps to entrance and inside the home
- Location – Don’t isolate oneself
The Health Subcommittee have been focusing recently on how to influence these three key principles that the membership has identified:
- Services are affordable, available and accessible
- Support and care should promote dignity and independence
- Information promotes and supports good health and wellbeing
Our Strategic Operational Action Group (SOAG) needs new members to support existing volunteers and our associate members, as we plan for the future, so the TCA can continue to grow and provide valuable and positive support to all our members and residents of Torbay. Meetings are held once a month, for approximately two hours at Paignton Library.
Volunteers for the various subcommittees are also needed for the specific projects being reviewed. No expertise is needed, just a genuine interest in the various topics.
Finally, all residents are welcome to join the Assembly. Meetings are held quarterly, again at Paignton Library. Various speakers provide interesting, informative talks and workshops on those topics, leading to a lot of discussion, ideas and suggestions being shared.
If you are interested in joining us to find out more, we will be holding an informal Information and Recruitment event on Friday 23rd October from 2:30-4:30pm in Paignton Library, upstairs in Rooms 11 and 12.
Or, if you are unable to join us in-person, please contact Jess Slade by emailing jessslade@torbaycdt.org.uk or call her on 07772023170. We can then arrange for a Strategic Operational Action Group member to give you a call and discuss the roles with you, or share some further details on how you might want to get involved.
