Five organisations in Canada, Colombia, Kenya, India and the UK set up HelpAge International in 1983 to provide a strong network to support older people worldwide.
Early days
The idea for a global network of older people’s organisations arose from a consultancy commissioned by Sir Lesley Kirkley, Chair of Help the Aged’s Overseas Committee, in 1980.
“It was the time of the Ethiopia and Somalia wars,” says Chris Beer, who carried out the consultancy and who later became HelpAge International’s Chief Executive Officer.
“It became clear that older refugees were not being looked after by other agencies. The idea was to become a lobby for older people and develop programmes such as eyecare and community care.”
Steady growth
In November 1983, five organisations – Help the Aged (now Age UK), HelpAge India, HelpAge Kenya, Help the Aged Canada and Pro-Vida Colombia – came together to form the HelpAge International network.
The idea of a global network quickly took hold. In 1988, Mark Gorman, now HelpAge International’s Strategic Development Adviser, took on the task of developing the network.
“I was very interested in helping to expand the group of organisations, which then numbered about 20,” he says. “We produced publications, provided fundraising and skills training. People valued the idea of being part of a global movement.”
Global influence
The HelpAge International network has since grown steadily in size and influence. We now have over 170 network members and many more partners in more than 90 countries across the world.
In the 1980s, ageing was not on the development agenda. The 1982 United Nations Vienna International Plan of Action on Ageing did not focus on the developing world.
Now there is growing awareness of ageing issues, particularly in countries going through rapid demographic transition in Europe, China and India.
We have formal relations with some of the most influential agencies in the sector, including consultancy status with the UN and World Health Organization.