On 3 October 1997 three hundred Irish elders
from twenty London Boroughs attended a one-day conference, together with
representative of fifteen Irish organisations, to consider the needs, concerns
and interests of the London Irish elderly community. In a series of
presentations and workshops, Irish elders, representatives of Irish
organisations with strategic roles, and front line workers with Irish elders
addressed issues around elders' information and service needs. Workshops on
housing, social security benefits, Irish elders clubs and support groups, and
returning to Ireland proved a popular and valuable way of allowing Irish elders
themselves to define their needs.