title: National forum launched to improve lives of bme elders.
abstract: Leaders of the UK's black and minority ethnic (BME) communities have joined Age Concern England to launch a national forum aimed at improving the lives of BME elders all over the country. Minority ethnic groups are the fastest ageing groups within the population and by 2030 it is estimated that the minority ethnic elder population will have increased tenfold to 1.7 million. Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern England, said: 'The forum will play a crucial role in enabling real and lasting change to policy and existing services, making a difference to the lives of older people in our increasingly diverse ageing population.' Pictured with Mr Lishman (centre) at the forum's launch are pensions minister Maria Eagle, and forum chair Len Shillingford (see Older Voices, pages 10-13 ).