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Sutton Seniors’ Forum and the “Three L’s”

A membership survey among those joining Sutton Seniors’ Forum (SSF) revealed that the majority were elderly women aged 70+ who were the “Three L’s” - Living Lonely Lives. SSF was quickly changed, still campaigning for elderly issues but also providing social/cultural activities to enable members to meet others in similar circumstances.

But our story must really start with the Forum’s beginning. The founding Chairman, David Dombey, became a Business Counsellor when he retired. When nearing 70 he was infuriated to discover that he could no longer be insured as a Counsellor. This example of ‘ageism’ prompted him to try and help others of his age group.

David contacted the Greater London Forum for Older People (GLF), an umbrella organisation who have started a Forum in all 33 Greater London Boroughs. With their help a small group formed an ad-hoc Committee, wrote a Constitution, and agreed how the Forum should be run. The initial Public Meeting held in Sutton Council’s meeting hall in 1996 attracted 50 potential members,. These regular meetings were attended within two years by over 140, and a larger hall had to be found. A part-time Co-ordinator was appointed thanks to three-year grants from the Trust from London followed by the current Lottery grant - other grants have topped £100,000 over the ten years.

Campaigning for elderly issues by Forum representatives on all local institutions has ensured that many important topics are aired - especially using opinions expressed in membership surveys. Both local MPs and Councillors attend the ten annual Public Meetings so that members can meet them, and speakers cover a variety of topics. A petition regarding the 25p added to the weekly state pension for the 80+ pensioners - which has remained constant since it was introduced in the 70’s was presented to “No. 10” with the help of Paul Burstow MP.

SSF with Sutton’s Mayor as President celebrated its Tenth Anniversary with a celebration lunch on 10 March 2006. It is now a registered Charity and boasts over 450 individual members with a further 3,000 from 35 affiliated local groups - making it one of the biggest and most influential Forums in Greater London.

David R. Dombey
Chairman