ONCE again it’s a pleasure to touch base with Herald readers. Now into my sixth year as an independent elected member of North Ayrshire Council serving in Garnock Valley (Ward 2), I have a fond spot in my scribbling heart for our local newspaper, so we need to support and treasure it.

The importance of effective communication to residents across North Ayrshire is absolutely crucial, and the Herald and elected members have a vital role to play in sharing community information.

I do this on a weekly basis via my blog, now in its 300th sequential week. Believe me, it’s been lot of scribbling running into thousands of words – a labour of love.

In my role as Older People’s Champion I want to focus on concerns which currently impact on our golden oldies. The cost-of-living crisis sends shivers down the spine. But please don’t let doom and gloom dominate.

There is always a shining rainbow which we need to search out, often with the help of family, friends or professionals. It really is good to talk.

There are simple but special moments when we human beings can say ‘I love you’, ‘I’m proud of you’, or ‘Can I help you?’ That’s what eternity is made of: invisible, imperishable good stuff, so don’t bottle up worries. Speak out and tell others and let the good flow into your life.

That said the reality is that tough times do lie ahead. There are 150,000 Scottish pensioners who live in relative poverty.

The most commonly used poverty threshold is 60 per cent of the median household income. Before this crisis, an estimated 218,000 older Scottish households were in fuel poverty – of whom 116,000 were in extreme fuel poverty. This is defined simply as being unable to afford to heat the home adequately.

As predicated by Age Scotland, a staggering 83 per cent of pensioner households will be in fuel poverty by the end of January 2023, mainly due to rocketing energy bills – the biggest financial concern for respondents in Age Scotland’s recent Big Survey.

It is often wrongly assumed that pensioners in Scotland are better off, but the reality is stark: around 40 per cent of Scottish pensioners don’t have incomes high enough to pay income tax.

That is why I continually encourage pensioners and their families to ensure that they are claiming any benefits to which they may be entitled: firstly pension credit, and this opens the door to a range of other benefits. Make sure you claim.

People currently struggling to make ends meet can turn to a team of specialist welfare rights advisers, in North Ayrshire - Money Matters Advice Line on 01294 310456, 9.30am-4pm, Monday to Friday.

You can also email moneymatters@north-ayrshire.gov.uk and there is an online contact form at www.nahscp.org/money-matters.