Ex social work chief attends summit

Fred Edwards, former director of social work of Strathclyde Region,
is attending the Earth Summit in Johannesburg as chairperson of a
new charity aiming to get older people involved in environmental
issues.

Edwards is chairperson of the Senior Scottish Alliance Volunteering
for the Environment, an alliance between Age Concern Scotland,
Volunteer Development Scotland and other voluntary groups. Before
retiring, Edwards was the director of the largest social work
department in Europe and at the forefront of social policy in the
UK. Since then he has focused on environmental issues.

He said: “I think age itself adds value in environmental issues. By
and large, wisdom increases with age. Then there is a kind of
urgency about old age. You have to make every day count. I will be
a voice and a presence for Scotland’s older generation in
Johannesburg.”