Around 85 delegates from across the area, and representatives of public and third-sector organisations, were welcomed to the town’s Ballerup Hall by council leader Councillor Joe Fagan.

He was joined by South Lanarkshire Council’s Older People’s Champion, Councillor Eileen Logan, Executive Director of Housing and Technical Resources, Stephen Gibson, and Professor Soumen Sengupta, Chief Officer of South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership. Together they delivered a variety of updates about relevant issues including Age Friendly South Lanarkshire and Progressive Housing.

South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture also gave delegates the chance to try out some of their newest classes aimed at the over 50s during a ‘Move About Break’ (below). Other interactive parts of the event included a waste management quiz, a challenge ageism breakout session and advice stalls from Money Matters and Trading Standards.

Councillor Fagan said he was honoured to welcome delegates back to East Kilbride for the first time in more than five years. He added: “Since we became Scotland’s first ‘Age Friendly’ community, the council, together with the Seniors Together project, have been working hard to deliver on what that title truly means.

“It’s the creation of a South Lanarkshire where people can live independently and continue to do what is important to them as they grow older; a community where people can retain a strong sense of purpose beyond retirement with close connections to others.

“And it’s about recognising that older people are ‘experts through experience’ who should be consulted about decisions which affect them. Through this Assembly and the leadership of the Seniors Together project we are doing exactly that.”

Councillor Eileen Logan, Older People’s Champion, also urged delegates to continue to make their voices heard, adding: “What’s most important is that you all keep coming along to the Assembly, taking part in the many projects and initiatives led by Seniors Together and working with us to make South Lanarkshire a genuinely great place to grow older. 

“You are the advocates for this growing movement of older people taking ownership of life in later years and what that looks like for our communities.”

The next South Lanarkshire Older Peoples Assembly will take place in December. For more details or to get involved email Seniors Together: or telephone 01698 454105