Age discrimination (also known as ageism) involves stereotyping and discriminating against individuals or groups of people based on their age. It involves stereotypes about people from a particular age group, prejudices against them, and actions that discriminate against them, either intentionally or unintentionally.
It may apply to any age group, but is most often relevant to older people and younger people, both of whom are stereotyped for different reasons as unable to play a role as full citizens. It is frequently shown in institutional practices and policies that perpetuate stereotypes, such as age limits in on-line dating sites, the banning of young people from shops and certain public venues, etc. It also has impacts on relationships between different generations; for example mutual mistrust between local groups of older and younger people.
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The National Youth Agency believes that now more than ever young people need youth workers. Youth workers dedicate their time and expertise to helping young people in their personal and social development, equipping them with the practical skills they need to be resilient in challenging times, and positive contributors to future economic growth.
Aims to help young people especially, though not exclusively through leisure-time activities, so to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society.
Shropshire Youth Parliament and Telford & Wrekin Youth Parliament
The UK youth parliament was founded in 1999 as a forum for young people to discuss issues and influence the government. Members of youth parliaments (MYPs) are elected by the young people of their county by voting in schools, youth groups and specially organised events.
MYPs represent the views of young people at a local, regional, and national level. The youth parliaments are run by young people, for young people, and have grown in strength over the past decade to offer a real voice for young people.
Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is a partner in the Age Action Alliance along with hundreds of voluntary, private and public sector organisations coming together to to improve the quality of later life through partnership working between its members and older people; creating communities where older people feel secure, valued and able to contribute to society..
The Alliance was launched on the 30 September 2011 to coincide with Older People’s Day celebrations. As the first national initiative of its kind, the Alliance aims to improve the lives of the most disadvantaged older people, prevent deprivation in later life and challenge age discrimination.
Shropshire Seniors campaigns for the rights of older people across the county. Individual forums hold meetings in different areas which are free.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin works to help all people over 60. They offer a range of services, including:
- Free information and advice service to help older people with queries and problems.
- Factsheets on a wide variety of issues and a local A-Z of Services for older people across the area
- Benefits advice, answering enquiries, providing benefit checks and assisting with completing benefit claim forms. They also offer assistance at Benefit Tribunals.
- An advocacy service, providing independent and trustworthy support for older people facing problems such as care home charges or disputes with a service provider
- Over 40 day centres in Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin A Help at Home scheme in Shropshire Council area, providing domestic help and volunteer visiting, assisting many older people to remain in their own homes.
- A befriending service, providing volunteer befrienders to visit older people in their homes or to offer support by telephone.
