Join me at my Older Persons’ Fair
One of the greatest privileges of being your Member of Parliament is meeting residents face-to-face and helping them access the support they deserve. This October, I'm bringing that mission to life on a bigger scale with my brand new Older Persons' Fair.
Last year, my team and I held a series of Older Persons' Advice Surgeries across Blackpool South. Hundreds of local pensioners came along and many of them discovered they were missing out on financial support, benefits and services they were entitled to.
In my office we have now helped hundreds of pensioners access Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support and help with energy costs. Often residents tell us they simply hadn't known this support existed, or hadn't known how to claim it. Sometimes they are too proud to claim. But the state has a responsibility to older people, many of whom have spent their lives working and paying taxes. This is support you are entitled to and deserve.
Building on that success of my surgeries, I'm now hosting my first Older Persons' Fair – a bigger, broader event bringing together organisations from across Blackpool under one roof to offer holistic support.
On Friday 23 October, between 9am–3pm, the Pavilion & Horseshoe in the Winter Gardens with be transformed into a one stop shop for older people. The idea is simple – to make getting advice and support as easy as possible, rather than juggling phone lines, websites and different offices.
On the day, you'll be able to speak directly to local organisations and experts about:
Pension Credit and other benefits
Housing and Council Tax support
Attendance Allowance
Energy bills and keeping your home warm
Health, wellbeing and staying independent
Money advice and community support
It's not just about paperwork and forms, though. The fair is just as much about connection as it is about advice. Alongside the support stalls, there'll be community and social groups, craft and hobby groups, choirs and music, dance and movement workshops, theatre groups, activities and demonstrations to try. There'll be entertainment and light refreshments throughout the day too.
A wide range of organisations will be attending, including Lancashire Women, The Big Food Project, British Gas Energy Trust, Healthwatch Blackpool, Citizens Advice, N-Vision, and Blackpool Council.
You don't need a specific problem to come along. Whether you need help with something specific, want to check you're receiving all the support you're entitled to, or simply fancy meeting local organisations and finding out what's on offer, I'd be delighted to see you there.
If you'd like to attend, please let my office know in advance:
Phone: 01253 532401
Email: chris.webb.mp@parliament.uk
Online: chriswebb.org/opfair
I know that not all older people have access to technology, so I'm also writing to every single pensioner across Blackpool South to invite them along. It's a privilege to serve as your Member of Parliament, and I'm looking forward to meeting many of you at the fair.
