The Celebrate Age Network (CAN) Forum is an independent group that enables older people to get involved in the planning and development of public services in Dundee. The group membership is made up of older people who elect a committee annually to manage the work. An important focus for CAN has been increasing the capacity of older people to effectively participate in consultation and involvement opportunities.
Generally, the process of involvement is based on asking people to initially get involved in a small, discrete piece of work and then providing progression opportunities. For example they might start off taking a taxi journey for CAN as part of the Mystery Travelling Project and end up sitting round a table with the Head of Transport.
Once people become involved there is a process they can go through to support further (and deeper) involvement. Participants are provided with information, training and a mentor or ‘buddy’ to help them build capacity. Informal social activities are also arranged, as a way of encouraging participation.