A photo of a board room style table with 8 people seated around it. They are facing the camera and smiling. 6 are members of the lived experience group and 2 are from Age NI.

Age NI's policy and engagement team met with the Lived Experience Group at Mid & East Antrim Agewell to discuss the public consutlation on @clairesugden.bsky.social 's age discrimination bill & our own research on hospital journeys - 2 great opportunities for older people to have their voices heard!

‘The reason I’m not justice minister is because I’m a unionist’: Claire Sugden speaks about serving as Stormont’s sole independent MLA As Northern Ireland’s only independent Assembly member, Claire Sugden has none of the support awarded to the larger parties, but she does have one of the best offices in Stormont.

Claire Sugden speaks to Allison Morris about serving as Stormont’s sole independent MLA, her frustration with local politics, and a possible Westminster bid

Older people in NI, like Colin, have less protection against age discrimination than the rest of the UK & Ireland. A consultation is open on a proposed bill to prevent age discrimination in goods, facilities & services for all ages, addressing this equality law gap 👇
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Plenary Session- Monday 7 April 2025 YouTube video by Northern Ireland Assembly

We welcome @clairesugden.bsky.social's proposal to protect all ages from age discrimination in goods, facilities & services in Northern Ireland through her private members' bill. We look forward to working with her to progress effective legislation. Watch from 1:47 👇
www.youtube.com/live/OyXlLF-...

graphic of hands raised with hearts on the palms in different shades of blue

@clairesugden.bsky.social has launched a public consultation on new age discrimination legislation to close a longstanding gap in Northern Ireland’s equality laws.

Submit your response here: www.niassembly.gov.uk/assembly-bus...

Read more: www.ageni.org/news/public-...

Addressing poverty and supporting the elderly The programme for government comes just over a year since the Northern Ireland Executive reformed in February 2024. A draft version of the programme, an 88-page document entitled Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most, was unveiled last September before an eight-week public consultation. More than 1,400 responses were received in the consultation process for the draft programme for government, the first and deputy first ministers said. O'Neill said there was "broad support" for the proposals put forward, but they have also "listened to the views of the public". Little-Pengelly said that as a result they have added "commitments to address poverty and to support our ageing population". She also said the final document includes "ambitious targets" and that progress would be monitored. The minister said a "wellbeing dashboard" would help ensure the plans were "having the intended impact".

Fantastic to see a commitment being made to support our ageing population and address poverty. We look forward to reading the full details.

🔗Read more: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

@clairesugden.bsky.social @copni.bsky.social #AntiPovertyStrategyNow

Age NI logo in top left corner light blue quotation marks, dark blue text on white background "I'm supporting the motion for Strategic Planning for an Ageing Population in the NI Assembly"

We’re delighted to see this important motion being brought to the Assembly by the Chair of the All Party Group on Ageing and Older People, @clairesugden.bsky.social MLA.

📣 Ask your MLAs to take part in the debate and vote for the motion on Tuesday 25 February!

MLA urges Executive to act amid ‘shocking’ rise in domestic abuse crime against over-60s An MLA has said that a significant increase in the number of domestic abuse victims aged 60 and above is “shocking”, after a report revealed it had risen by 15%.

📈 | There has been a 15% rise in domestic abuse crimes against the over 60s in NI.

🏛️ | Former Justice Minister @clairesugden.bsky.social has called on the Executive to act on the figures.

📰 | @belfasttelegraph.co.uk

💚Samaritans💚

One of my favourite things to do at Christmas. Your generosity is much appreciated.

Whatever you’re going through Samaritans will face it with you, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Call 116 123.

We’re in Coleraine today & tomorrow, so please donate if you can.