CAMPAIGNS
THE SILVER MANIFESTO 2024
In preparation for the General Election expected in 2024, Silver Voices has drawn together our existing policies and campaigns into a published document which we will use to influence the debate over the next 12 months. The document can be accessed below:
SAVE OUR LANDLINES
Silver Voices is leading the campaign to oppose the rushed switchover of copper wire landlines to an internet-based system (VoIP or Digital Voice). We have launched a petition on the official Government website, calling for an extension of the timetable for at least five years, so that proper measures can be put in place to support vulnerable customers. the petition can be signed on the following link:
Review Timetable For Phasing Out Copper Wire Landlines – Petitions (parliament.uk)
SILVER INSIGHTS RESEARCH REPORT ON TRADITIONAL TV AND RADIO
Silver Voices has published an in depth research report on public attitudes and worries about the potential loss of broadcast TV and radio, in the battle with streaming services based on the internet. The research report can be accessed in full here: PDF of the report and the accompanying press release here: PDF of the press release
The report provides recommendations for Government action to guarantee the continuation of Freeview TV and aerial radio.
RELAUNCHED CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE TRIPLE LOCK
The Government is again threatening to dilute or ignore the Triple Lock formula, despite its manifesto promises, and may not update the state pensions by 8.5% next April as required by the formula. Silver Voices has relaunched its petition to save the Triple Lock in cooperation with the Daily Express. It can be signed on the following link:
https://www.change.org/p/
AGE DISCRIMINATION AND AGEISM CAMPAIGN
Silver Voices is campaigning hard for the endemic age discrimination in UK Society to be recognised and stamped out. Our recent survey of 1000 members revealed the extent of the problems, with the official results available on the link below. Age discrimination has been made worse by the headlong rush to digital banking and service provision, without providing easy alternatives.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-2GmwtZSZ2o1uxDPha9Z3hA_3D_3D/
£320 PER WEEK MINIMUM PENSION CAMPAIGN
Our newsletter, Briefing 24/23, dated 18 May 2023, outlined our latest campaign objective of achieving a minimum state pension of £320 per week, based on half of average earnings in the UK. This policy was backed by 99% of our members in an independent poll.
FROZEN PENSIONS SCANDAL
Silver Voices has joined with the End Frozen Pensions Campaign to launch a petition to the political parties, to end the scandal of half a million British pensioners who live abroad having their state pensions frozen. Please sign and share the petition on the following link:
https://www.change.org/end-frozen-pensions
SAVE FREEVIEW AND AERIAL RADIO CAMPAIGN
Silver Voices is part of the Broadcast 2040+ Coalition drawing attention to the threat to Freeview TV and aerial radio from streaming services and internet-based technology. You can sign our petition on the official government website, demanding long-term guarantees from Government:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/630957
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PETITION TO SAVE THE TRIPLE LOCK
Fears that the Triple Lock was again in jeopardy under the Sunak Government prompted Silver Voices and the Daily Express to launch a joint petition in the run up to the Budget on 17 November. 330,000 people signed the petition in a successful campaign which restored the Triple Lock from April 2023
https://www.change.org/triple-lock-crusade
BBC PROSECUTIONS CAMPAIGN
Silver Voices is running a joint campaign with APPEAL, the legal charity, to persuade TV Licensing to soften its prosecution processes during the cost-of-living crisis, to ensure that families in genuine financial difficulty are not criminalised. Our very successful petition can be signed on the following link:
SIGN OUR PETITION ON THE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITE FOR A MINIMUM PENSION GUARANTEE OF AT LEAST £200 PER WEEK FOR ALL STATE PENSIONERS:
https://petition.parliament.
SAFEGUARDS AGAINST RAMPANT DIGITALISATION
Silver Voices is being inundated by emails from members over concerns that older people are being left behind by businesses and public services switching over to digital communications for most transactions. Many older people do not own smartphones or are unable or unwilling to use apps to conduct transactions. We are calling for legal safeguards to ensure that non-digital alternatives are always available. Silver Voices is also campaigning against landlines being switched over to digital telephones by the main telecom providers.
NHS DENTISTRY CRISIS
Silver Voices is drawing the attention of politicians and the media to the parlous state of NHS dentistry, with thousands being forced to go private as NHS treatment is not available. The results of a survey of our members is available here:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-82VDYSH99/
FACE-TO-FACE APPOINTMENTS WITH GPs
The pandemic has been used to make major changes in the way NHS services are being delivered locally. Many people are finding it difficult, sometimes impossible, to see their GP and are being fobbed off with other practice staff or remote consultations. Silver Voices is campaigning to stop the link between patient and doctor being broken permanently, on grounds of patient safety. Sign and share our petition on the official government website to embed the absolute right of patients to a face-to-face appointment with a GP.
(petition now closed)
SOCIAL CARE CRISIS
Silver Voices members have had enough of broken promises on the reform of social care. Up to 2 million older people across the UK are not receiving the social care support they need and they are struggling to survive in their own homes. Our members have therefore resolved to support older people who decide to withhold their council tax payments (rates in Northern Ireland) if their social care needs have not been met by their local authority or trust.
FREE TV LICENCES/ GUM UP THE WORKS CAMPAIGN
From 1 August 2020, Silver Voices launched a campaign of direct action to ‘gum up the works’ of TV Licensing to force the BBC and Government to find ways to reinstate the free TV licence for the over 75s. The plan is for all over 60s to complicate and delay payments of the fees to ensure collection and enforcement become unworkable.
STOP PRESS: Nine out of ten of our over 75s members have voted to support a national TV licence fee strike in protest at the scrapping of their right to a free TV licence. Silver Voices will support and advise all senior citizens who have decided to withhold their licence fee. The immediate objective of the action is to persuade the Government and the BBC to stop blaming each other and discuss ways to restore free licences as soon as possible.
EXTEND SHIELDING SUPPORT/ FACE MASKS
Silver Voices campaigned for shielding support for “extremely vulnerable” people to be extended and for face masks to be made compulsory wherever social distancing is difficult. Originally we were a lone voice but eventually good sense prevailed on Covid-19 safeguards
PENSION CREDIT CAMPAIGN
Silver Voices is supporting the Independent Age campaign to end the low take-up of pension credit. Only 60% of those entitled to pension credit actually receive it and £3.5 billion is returned to the Treasury each year. We are calling on the Government to publish an action plan to ensure that every older person eligible for the benefit receives it.
FUNERAL COSTS
We are campaigning against the excessive costs of funerals which are now a national disgrace, with funeral directors taking advantage of people when they at their most vulnerable. We have influenced the current investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
FREE PERSONAL CARE CAMPAIGN
Silver Voices is strongly supporting the campaign of Independent Age for free personal care for all, on the same basis as medical care under the NHS. In the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis we will be arguing for huge extra resource commitments to remedy a collapsing social care system and a dysfunctional market.
CONTACT
