Welcome to National Old Age Pensioners Association of Wales Cymdeithas Genedlaethol Pensiynwyr Cymru

OBJECTS & AIMS

a) To advance and protect the interests of ALL Pensioners. 
b) To invoke public opinion to the active concern for the support of the Pensioners' movement. 
c) To press the demands of the Association upon Members of the European Parliament, the U.K Parliament. the Welsh National Assembly, and Local Authorities.

HISTORY

The National Old Age Pensioners Association of Wales was founded in 1938, when eleven pensioner groups joined together to hold a rally at Aberdare, and thus was formed the oldest and largest wholly voluntary pensioner's organisation in Wales.

ORGANISATION

The Association is administrated by an Executive Council comprising of annually elected officers and delegates from the current 15 Areas The Area Councils are administered by elected officers and delegates from branches within the area. The branches themselves are totally autonomous, but agree to abide by the Association's Constitution and Rules. The Association believes that ALL Pensioner Groups should be seen to be speaking with one voice. The Association is affiliated with the U.K. wide National Pensioners Convention

and sends delegates to attend their meetings in London. The Association is non-party political, and nonsectarian.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

At present there are approaching 200 branches in the Association and these cover an area from Caldicot in the East. to Aberystwyth in the West, and from the South Coast to Brecon in the North. Membership is open to any group of individuals in receipt of a retirement. widow. or old age pension, or anyone with an interest in the elderly, and who agree to abide by the Association's Constitution and rules.

Subscriptions are 15 pence per member per annum (1999)+ a small Area levied fee.

EVENTS

CONFERENCE

An Annual Conference is held in June of each year, where resolutions put 
forward by the Branches and Areas are debated,, and if passed form the 
Association's policy.  Each branch is entitled to send two delegates to Conference.

ANNUAL RALLY

An Annual Rally held in July with guest speakers. presentations to our most senior members. and first class entertainment laid on.
(3) AN ANNUAL DRAW is held that helps to sustain all levels of the Association, allowing only a very small contribution per member, then being necessary. AFFILIATIONS We co-operate with other Pensioner Organisations such as Wales Pensioners, The National Pensioners Convention, Help the Aged, Age Concern Cyniru etc. We take an active part in marches and demonstrations including the annual one in London to commemorate the introduction of the State Pension. Delegations of the Association look forward to attending the NPC's Pensioners Parliament in Blackpool annually.

THE FUTURE.

As with any vibrant organisation we are looking to the future, and the following areas are ones, which we are targeting:

THE WELSH ASSEMBLY.

We are determined to have input into the matters affecting older people in the newly devolved National Assembly for Wales.

CAMPAIGNING

The Association is PRIMARILY A CAMPAIGNING ORGANISATION STRIVING TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR all PENSIONERS. Currently campaigning on a number of fronts, including - Community Care, Miners Compensation Claims, improved NHS facilities for older people. improved Primary Care facilities etc. But the main plank of the Associations campaigning is for a greatly improved State Pension, linked to Average earnings and the abolition of means tested benefits.

CONCESSIONS

The Association is urging the Government and local Authorities to (a) standardise travel concessions. (b) Free TV Licenses for pensioners as a whole. and (c) reduce the present tariffs charged by the Utility Co.'s e.g. Standard Credit, Direct Debit, and Prepayment meters etc. The Association demands that the Government keep their promise that pensioners would share in the increasing prosperity of the nation.

It is of the utmost importance that we expand our membership to provide the executive with as strong a mandate as possible.   We therefore urge you to join with us to help press forward our just demands

Further information from General Secretary: -