London, September 28, 2012. As part of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations 2012, the UK will stage a Seniorforce Day event on October 1, 2012. It is an occasion to promote the work of seniors as volunteers and to highlight the importance of their contributions to society. The Seniorforce Day in the UK is part of a series of events that are taking place all over the European Union and are promoted by the European Commission.
The UK's Seniorforce Day will take place on October 1 from 12:00-15:00 at the Europe House, London. The afternoon will celebrate the Age UK's Older Volunteer Awards with speeches from London's MEP Syed Kamall, Age UK's Tom Wright, and Helen Dimmock from the UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions. The event takes place on the same day as the UK's Older People's Day. This day is a national celebration of older people's achievements and the contributions they make to society and the economy. On or around October 1, there will be a wide range of local events for people to attend throughout the UK.
In many EU countries, these Seniorforce Days are linked to the International Day for Older Persons which is being celebrated for two decades around October 1. In the context of the European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, the European Commission is inviting public authorities and volunteer organisations all over Europe to devote one day to finding new ways of mobilising senior volunteers and making the most of their contributions.
Examples of activities planned for the European Seniorforce Day include a volunteer fair in Vienna, Austria, which focuses on intergenerational and senior volunteering. In France a series of different events in all regions will take place. In Lithuania, it will be organized a discussion with the Minister of Social Security and Labour and representatives of NGOs with senior people, volunteers and stakeholders.
The events all over Europe offer people, politicians and stakeholders the opportunity to mobilise seniors in Europe. Whether through volunteering or active civil participation, the involvement of senior people is beneficial to society as a whole. The Seniorforce Day will celebrate the contribution of seniors and highlight the ways in which they can participate more actively in society.