 Today people are living longer than ever before. By 2020 half the UK will be age 50 or over. This shift in the population and its ever increasing demands means West Sussex County Council has had to change its adult services and the way they are organised. Until now the council has spent most of the money meeting the needs of relatively few people but it is moving towards more preventative and universally accessible services. The council will not always be the direct provider. More and more it is working with the voluntary sector to deliver community-based services. What we've been able to do by making additional investment is put that investment into voluntary sector organisations, community organisations that are very used to working at the heart of their local communities working with the particular needs of a certain customer group. The British Red Cross for example has been commissioned to run the home from hospital scheme which is there to support people when they first come out of hospital. Age UK West Sussex has been commissioned to provide the good neighbours scheme which gives invaluable advice and support to help residents continue living in their own homes. Another good example are the My Network and My Network Plus services for adults with learning difficulties and their carers. They have been commissioned by the County Council but are run by community-based service providers. Through six drop-in centres the services work to make sure individuals get the support, help and advice they need to continue to live independently. We're delighted in West Sussex that we have so many of the advantages that older people bring, their contribution to communities, their contribution as volunteers, their work as grandparents is all hugely valuable. So we need to make sure that we're prepared for our ageing population in this county. It is with this in mind that the new prevention assessment teams have been created. They aim to help people stay healthy and remain independent for as long as possible. While the assessment teams assist with health and social needs, the new care-wise scheme gives residents guidance on some of the financial advice they might need in their later years. Many more people are benefiting from the Open Access Universal Services. That would include older people benefiting from the work of the prevention assessment teams, people with learning disabilities benefiting from My Network and My Network Plus and the general population benefiting from the health and wellbeing hubs. The County Council will continue to run some services. These include the new specialist day services aimed at people with a physical, sensory or memory impairment. The centres offer a range of activities, personal care, advice and information, as well as providing support for carers. The changes have taken place in a difficult financial climate, but there is no doubt they have brought real benefits and have made sure that West Sussex residents are well placed to face the future.