The Kilburn Debates are intended to provide an opportunity for academic researchers and the older public to meet. The aim is to enhance understanding of research and to challenge the perception of it as remote, cut off from everyday life, or controlling our lives from a distance. The focus is not on consulting older people, or on involving them in research, but on debating the way evidence is gathered, how it's analysed, and how it links to policy and practice. Inevitably, though, there will be an important component of reflecting on experience. Topics so far decided cover homelessness, poverty and income maintenance, ageing in southern Africa, and public space. Sessions on stroke and elder abuse are in the pipeline.

The Debates are happening on a monthly basis at an older people's centre in Camden. Those invited are users of the centre, and members of the Kilburn Older Voices Exchange (KOVE), and Camden's Quality of Life Panel. The BSG is meeting the presenters' travel expenses but otherwise this is an unfunded initiative facilitated by two of the Society's members, John Miles and Mel Wright. The local authority is providing considerable support in kind. Besides the wider goal concerning the public understanding of research it is hoped the Society will benefit in two ways: by exploring new partnerships (in this case with a local authority and a community network of older people) and by publicising the Debates once they are firmly under way in the new year.

Measuring poverty – what makes an older person poor?
Debora Price, King’s College, University of London
Tuesday November 18th 2008, 11.00am – 2.30pm

Responding to ageing in Africa – factors relating to HIV/AIDS, care-giving and social protection in the republic of South Africa
Jaco Hoffman, University of Oxford
Tuesday January 20th 2009, 11.00am – 2.30pm

Lunch: £3.00, Kingsgate Resource Centre, Palmerston Road, NW6 2JU

For information contact Mel Wright: 020 8690 1291 or MWright587@aol.com

Information about both Kilburn Older Voices Exchange and the Kingsgate Resource Centre can be found at:

www.acting-up.org.uk/icontact.htm