More than 60 Active Retirement Ireland members took part in a Policy and Campaigning Workshop as part of the organisation’s National AGM in Athlone on 23 June.
The interactive workshop was facilitated by ARI Head of Policy and Advocacy Alison Bough and gave members the opportunity to discuss and prioritise the issues they believe should shape the organisation’s advocacy and campaigning work over the next five years.
The session built on feedback gathered from members through ARI’s regional strategic planning consultations and explored how the organisation can continue to ensure that members’ lived experience informs its policy priorities. Members discussed a wide range of issues affecting older people, before working together to identify and prioritise the areas where they believe ARI can make the greatest impact.
The workshop also looked at how an issue can move from a concern raised by members to a national advocacy campaign. ARI’s campaign for fair access to shingles vaccination was used as a case study, tracing its development from a member motion at the 2025 National AGM through policy engagement, political advocacy, media activity and the national petition campaign.
Speaking after the workshop, Alison Bough said: “Our policy and advocacy work must be grounded in the experiences and priorities of our members. The workshop was an important opportunity to hear directly from members about the issues that matter most to them and where they believe Active Retirement Ireland should focus its advocacy over the coming years. The level of engagement and discussion in the room demonstrated just how strongly our members want to play an active role in shaping the policies that affect their lives.”
The outcomes of the workshop will feed into ARI’s strategic planning and help inform the organisation’s future policy and campaigning priorities, ensuring that members’ voices remain at the heart of its advocacy work.