Annual Conference Roundup

A huge thank you to everyone who attended the AEA Annual Conference. We know how busy all of you are in responding to the pandemic and we really appreciate you giving up your time to attend. If you were unable to make it on the day don’t worry, we have recorded many of the sessions from the conference which we will circulate in the next few weeks.

We know that some of you were unable to access the papers ahead of the conference, so we have included a link below. If you have any problems accessing the papers or have any questions about receiving NDP communications, please contact george.harvey@ageuk.org.uk.

Responding to your feedback – Programme timeline extended

Thank you for all of your feedback from the conference, which has resulted in the following changes to the Network Development Programme:

Programme Timeline Extended

There was a clear feeling from many of you at the conference that the ongoing pandemic makes it increasingly difficult to give as much consideration to the NDP as you would like. In response, we are extending the overall timeline for the programme so that the new Network Agreement begins in April 2022 instead of our originally proposed date of October 2021.

This means that it is now planned to roll over the English and Welsh Brand Partner Agreements by a year to April 2022, and to extend Agreements with Nations similarly. 

The AEA Executive Committee supported this proposal in relation to the English Brand Partner Agreement on Tuesday. Formal communications on the proposed extension will follow.

Consultation Deadline Extended to February 8th 2021

It was also clear from your feedback on the day that the proposed consultation deadline of January 11th 2021 is too soon to allow proper engagement with the Discussion Papers, especially with some papers still to come by December 11th.

With that in mind, we are also extending the consultation period to February 8th 2021 to allow you more time to discuss the proposals with your Boards. 

The rest of the proposed timeline has also been put back to now run as follows:

• February 8th 2021 – Initial consultation period ends
• April 2021 – Circulation of Shared Strategy consultation draft
• September 2021 – Circulation of proposed Network Agreement
• November 2021 – New Network Agreement issued for signing
• April 2022 – New Network Agreement comes into effect

Frequently Asked Questions Document now available

To answer all your questions, comments, and concerns, we have created an FAQ document which we will continue to update as more questions arise - we will send an updated version to you next week. If you have a question that isn’t covered in the FAQ below please email us at networkfuture@ageuk.org.uk
 

Next Steps – Board Consultations

As mentioned at the Conference and in my last message, the Annual Conference marks the start of a consultation period which now ends on 8th February 2021. During this period, we ask that you consider the Discussion Papers with your boards and offer your feedback.

When you are ready to provide your feedback, please download, fill out, and email your Board Feedback Template to networkfuture@ageuk.org.uk by February 8th 2021.

To help you discuss the consultation papers with your Boards and to answer any questions you may have, you can book a member of the AEA Executive Committee/Age Cymru or an Age UK regional link to attend your next Board meeting. To request this, please email: networkfuture@ageuk.org.uk.

Or, you can ask a member of the AEA Executive Committee, Age Cymru or your Age UK regional link:

• East: David Chenery, david.chenery@ageuk.org.uk
• East Midlands: Paul Robson, paul.robson@ageuk.org.uk
• London: Alexander Nobes, alexander.nobes@ageuk.org.uk
• North East: Paul Robson, paul.robson@ageuk.org.uk
• North West: Heather Stephenson, heather.stephenson@ageuk.org.uk
• Scotland and NI: Kirsty Gaskell-Sinclair, kirsty.gaskell-sinclair@ageuk.org.uk
• South East: Stuart Prince, stuart.prince@ageuk.org.uk
• South West: Sara Brown, sara.brown@ageuk.org.uk
• Wales: Heather Stephenson, heather.stephenson@ageuk.org.uk
• West Midlands: Kirsty Gaskell-Sinclair, kirsty.gaskell-sinclair@ageuk.org.uk
• Yorkshire & Humber: John Fox, john.fox@ageuk.org.uk

Very best wishes,

Paula Bee, Co-Chair, AEA