Advocacy
As a prime objective of SPARC was to raise the status of ageing research SPARC took every opportunity available and within its resources to promote ageing research to those who could benefit from it. This included influencing a wide range of organisations and professionals who could use the findings from research to improve the way they served the needs of older people and those who made or influenced policy within local and central government, health care, social services and industry, as well as older people. Not only did it endeavour to involve these stakeholders in workshops and other activities but it reported on SPARC's achievements in appropriate professional and other publications and actively solicited the interest of national and regional newspapers, radio and television.
SPARC ensured that government ministers, senior civil servants and, in general, government departments and other agencies were stimulated by the valuable contributions madeby the research it supporeds. Whilst fulfilling its role as an advocate it also sought opportunities for those holding SPARC Awards to have direct contact with key policy makers and others rather than acting as gatekeeper.
Many of the most significant opportunities to put forward the case for ageing research happened by chance and could notbe predicted. So whilst the SPARC secretariat was vigilant in seeking out opportunities, to some extent it was dependent on other opportunities being brought to its notice by those close to SPARC and also being kept up to date with progress on relevant projects. Similarly SPARC often helped others who were in a good position to make the case for ageing research and to this end was able to provide information and evidence of the achievements of current and recently completed research.
Since it commenced SPARC had regular correspondence with ministers, initiated two questions in Parliament and attracted the participation of HRH The Princess Royal in a SPARC workshop.
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