Local woman provides shelter from the elements

Mrs Gardner was delighted to receive her free bus pass when she turned 65, however as she suffered from asthma she couldn’t stand on the main Gracehill Road to wait for the bus as it was too exposed to inclement weather. That’s when she decided to do something about it.

CAP supported Mrs Gardner who enlisted the help of her friend Rosie McKinney, to develop a campaign plan and petition which she asked local residents to sign up to.

Mrs Gardner said: ‘I wanted to get bus shelters erected on the main road near my house for use by local residents both young and old. With the support of CAP I encouraged MLA Mervyn Storey to become my local champion and he helped strengthened my case when I went on to lobby my local council. After attending meetings with the PSNI, Road Services and the Council there are now two bus shelters on the Gracehill Road which local older people, families and children use everyday without having to stand in the rain and wind.

‘Although it was hard work, I was very proud when the bus shelters where erected. Some older people believe that their voice isn’t listened to but I can tell you that if you shout loud enough and to the right people, people do listen!’

Mrs Gardner’s experience of lobbying local decision makers to make a difference in her local community has given her the confidence to take on other projects and she now sits on a committee for a successful older people’s group which was in the process of closing, and has been one of many people who have fought to seek funding to maintain the group.

The Changing Ageing Partnership (CAP) was established in December 2005 to improve the quality of life for older people. Funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies for five years, the partnership brings together Age NI, the Workers' Educational Association and Queen's University Belfast.

The CAP vision is of a 'strong informed voice capable of challenging and changing attitudes and approaches to ageing.'

For more information on the Changing Ageing Partnership, see www.changingageing.org.