The hunt is on to find employers and individuals who are challenging discrimination against older people in the workplace.

Age Positive, a Government campaign to remove age barriers in employment, has launched the Age Positive Awards 2006.

The aim is to recognise people and organisations in Brighton and Hove who are positive about age and challenge ageist attitudes.

The campaign has been welcomed by Dorothy Engmann, director of Age Concern in Brighton and Hove.

She said: "Initiatives like this can help people and companies change their attitudes. All that life and work experience should not go to waste.

"There is a misapprehension that older people should not go on training courses because of the adage about old dogs and new tricks. But nothing is further from the truth. Older people are just as receptive to training, IT and new ideas as anyone else. We have a computer drop-in centre, which is used all the time.

"We need to overcome these prejudices and this is the type of project that helps."

South Downs Health NHS Trust is one of the city's largest employers, with 2,500 staff.

In November 2004 it was the first NHS trust in England to be recognised for its work to stamp out age discrimination by being awarded champion status by the Age Positive campaign.

The trust's oldest member of staff is 75 and the youngest just 17.

Deputy director of personnel Janet Miller said: "The removal of our retirement age and the introduction of flexible retirement options are intended to help meet the needs of older workers and improve recruitment and retention within the trust."

John Metcalfe, from Southwick, who is 67 later this month, is employed by the trust to co-ordinate its Agenda for Change programme, a new national pay and conditions contract for health workers.

He previously worked at South Downs for 13 years as a courier in its transport department and also was a union rep as well.

He said: "Obviously the experience you have built up over the years can go a long way to helping with projects like these.

"It is great to be able to get involved and use that knowledge for that work."

The awards are a key part of Age Positive Week, a series of awareness-raising events in May to inform employers and the public about age discrimination and to celebrate the benefits of age diversity.

There are two categories, with the first being for employers who can demonstrate they have a positive attitude towards age diversity in recruitment, training or development.

The second is for individuals who can demonstrate how they are defying ageist stereotypes or have overcome ageism.

The winners and finalists will be honoured at a special awards ceremony in London on May 10.

The closing date for entries is April 14. Entry forms are available at www.agepositive.gov.uk or by writing to Lauren Hamburger, 87-91 Newman Street, London W1T 3EY.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006