A manifesto for older people: Have your say on October 30

Older people are not responsible for the present economic crisis. Nor are they having an easy time while the rest of the population suffers austerity. Older people have the same share of people in poverty as the rest of the population. And many are vulnerable to cold and illness.

In the winter of 2012-2013 - the latest for which we have figures - 30,000 pensioners were killed by the cold.

Sometimes, it is forgotten how much pensioners contribute to our society. It is estimated they pay £45 billion in tax every year. Increasingly, older people are providing more unpaid childcare to their grandchildren to keep their parents at work and are providing an army of volunteers to keep many services afloat.

Pensioners share the same concerns as all adults. Recent data from the British Social Attitudes survey showed all age-groups rated health and education as their top priorities for public spending. Older people, too, share with the young concerns about the environment and peace.

There are, however, some immediate concerns for older people that will undoubtedly affect how they vote. The National Pensioners Convention (NPC) has developed its own manifesto for next year's general election, from contributions from Brighton and Hove, and from all over Britain.