Tameside Council leader Councillor Brenda Warrington congratulates recent award winners in the borough and discusses tackling abuse of elderly people in her latest column.

Before I begin this week, I want to take the opportunity to congratulate the Tameside residents whose heroic efforts in their communities have won deserved recognition in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2021.

Ashton landlady Pauline Town and Tameside councillor Vimal Choksi were both selected to receive MBEs. 

Pauline has gone above and beyond in her quest to end homelessness in Tameside, working closely with council officers to support those most in need with food, clothing and permanent accommodation. 

Vimal has combined his elected position with playing a vital role in a large number of community organisations within the borough. 

Heather Shepherd was honoured with a British Empire Medal on account of the work of her and her team at the Tameside East Food Bank during the coronavirus pandemic.

Two local community groups, ‘Our Kids Eyes (OKE)’ and the Anthony Seddon Fund, were also recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Groups, also commonly known as the ‘MBE for charities.’

It’s especially appropriate that we pay tribute to their work at the same time as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which took place last Tuesday. 

As the Lead for Age-Friendly in the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, I want to make our city region the best place in the country to grow old and be old in. 

And part of that mission is facing up to the truth that elderly abuse can and does happen. Research carried out by the national charity Hourglass suggested that as many as one in five people over 65 in the UK have been abused.

While this can take the form of domestic or other physical abuse, it can also take psychological, financial, or even sexual forms.

But if the first step in fighting elderly abuse is recognising it, the second, and even more important step, is reporting it. 

We cannot assume that somebody else will take action.

You can contact our Adult Social Care team to share any concerns, in the strictest of confidences, at 0161 922 4888 or by email at protectadult@tameside.gov.uk.

The recognition of Pauline, Vimal and Heather has shown the incredible work that can be done when we rally our communities around common values. 

In that spirit, let’s make protecting and valuing elderly residents in Tameside a duty that we all share. 

Not just for World Elderly Abuse Awareness Day, but for all of the other 364 days of the year.

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