Health and wealth event to target Moray over-50s

HEALTH, wealth and wellbeing for those aged 50 and above are at the heart of a forthcoming Moray event.

Run by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), Health, Wealth and Wellbeing will feature a mix of presentations followed by a mini jobs fair.

Forres-based DWP Employment and Partnership Manager Jane Munro said: "Mature workers are vital to our economy and are still the future of the labour market – the number of people aged 50 years and over as a proportion of the population is projected to increase from 42 per cent in 2010 to nearly 50 per cent (29.0 million) by 2035.

"Across Moray we have 315 customers currently over 50 who are searching for work compared to 2019 when we had 255. In total we have 1629 customers over 50 claiming Universal Credit currently compared to 2019 when we had 439 which is a significant increase of 371 per cent.

"As the workforce ages and fewer younger people leave education and training, employers will increasingly need to rely on the skills and experience of more mature workers if they are to remain competitive and avoid skills shortages in the future.

"As part of the plans to support this customer group, we will deliver a Health, Wealth and Wellbeing for over-50s event which is a mix of presentations from DWP and other different partner organisations followed by a mini jobs fair."

The agenda for the day is: 9.45am – Coffee/tea; 10am – Welcome and introductions. Information sessions to include IT support, access to work, identifying disability confident employers, the benefits of keeping active, training opportunities, pensions and future planning, money advice and sharing success stories; 12.30pm – Lunch (provided for DWP customers); 1.30pm-3.30pm – Jobs fair (for all ages).

Among the employers and agencies already signed up for the event are Brightworks, Gordonstoun School Ltd, HomeCare Scotland, Moray Council, Moray Leisure Centre and Walker's Shortbread.

For more information, email jcpmoray.employerandpartnershipteam@dwp.gov.uk. DWP customers can also speak to their work coaches.

The event will take place on Wednesday, May 24 at Moray Pathways Hub, @The Inkwell, Francis Place, Elgin.

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