19.10.2026
Ashford Place plays an active role in borough-wide initiatives that improve the lives of our community members, including older residents, and strengthen their connection to community support. Our regular participation in the Brent Pensioners Forum enables us to promote our services, listen directly to local pensioners and ensure their experiences help shape our work. Many pensioners who use our services also take part in the Forum, extending our reach through trusted community relationships and helping us address poverty, social isolation and loneliness across Brent.
We were delighted to attend the Forum’s AGM on Wednesday 7th October 2026 at Brent Civic Centre, having been represented at every meeting throughout the year. This sustained involvement gives Ashford Place a consistent presence in an important borough-wide network and provides regular opportunities to connect older residents with our services, represent their interests and contribute to local responses to the challenges they face.
Our wider borough engagement includes working alongside Dr Tony Burch and Florence Nwoku , on the pensioners forum as part of Age Friendly London and and the resulting Age Friendly Brent initiative. Through this partnership, we support pensioners to engage with Ashford Place, while their involvement, insight and community connections help us improve and extend our support. This reciprocal approach ensures that older residents are not only service users but active partners in strengthening provision for their community.
The AGM also demonstrated the value of the Forum as a route into a wider network of services. Age UK Hillingdon, Harrow and Brent, introduced their Enabling Connections project, a free befriending service for people aged 50 and over in Harlesden who are experiencing loneliness and isolation. Trained volunteers are matched with older people for weekly visits over up to six months, helping them set personal goals and reconnect with their community. Sharing initiatives such as this helps Ashford Place signpost residents effectively and strengthens coordinated support across the borough.
The meeting also created opportunities for older residents to engage with civic leaders. Dawn Butler MP sent a video message encouraging the work taking place through the Forum, while the Mayor of Brent, Cllr Amer Agha, opened the floor to questions so attendees could raise their concerns
