7:40am Thursday 28th January 2010
By Hannah Crown
THE OVER 50s can now discuss the state of the world, not over coffee in Cockfosters, but croissants in Corbevoie.
A new two-year project, set up with £42,000 of EU funds, allows senior citizens to meet with their counterparts of Enfield's three twin towns and share knowledge of living, studying, working, and growing older.
As well as planning trips to Courbevoie in France, Gladbeck in Germany, and Halandri in Greece, the Over 50s Forum, which initiated the scheme, is also planning to hold meetings at EU institutions.
The money comes from the Europe for Citizens programme, provided to allow Europeans to create a network of contacts and embark on pan-European projects.
Tony Watts, secretary of the Over 50s Forum, which initiated the project, said he was delighted.
He said: "There are no national boundaries to longer life expectancy and we need to see what lessons we can learn about how other countries are tackling this new phenomenon.”
“Our members are very excited about it. We will be holding international meetings in Paris and at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and will host our international partners who will visit us in Enfield as the project moves along.
“We aim to expand our knowledge, learn from our twinned partners and see what we can offer to them. This is exciting and gives older people the chance to have some influence over their lives across Europe. The council has helped us develop a unique partnership with three European towns and we will relish this opportunity.”
Neil Rousell, co-director, education, children’s services and leisure, added, “Education and learning never ends and we recognise that we have a duty to develop learning opportunities for all ages. This project brings people together to discover new ideas and to share them. It is about ‘active citizenship’ and will be most enlightening to see what it recommends.
“The Over 50s Forum is to be congratulated for working so hard in getting this off the ground with the council.”
For more information contact Enfield Council Cultural Services Team's Town Twinning Officer on 020 8379 3755 /3659 or contact the Over 50s Forum directly on 020 8807 2076.
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