Our History

The newspaper cutting showing Kathy McDevitt (on the left) the founder and driving force.

The newspaper cutting showing Kathy McDevitt (on the left) the founder and driving force.

The first funding KPAIS ever received. The group shot includes Sir George Howarth MP.

The first funding KPAIS ever received. The group shot includes Sir George Howarth MP.

Our 10th Birthday celebrations

Our 10th Birthday celebrations

Billy Butler is pictured with Tom Best our Chair.

Billy Butler is pictured with Tom Best our Chair.

The newspaper cutting showing Kathy McDevitt (on the left) the founder and driving force. The first funding KPAIS ever received. The group shot includes Sir George Howarth MP. Our 10th Birthday celebrations Billy Butler is pictured with Tom Best our Chair.

Better Lives History

Better Lives has grown from a longstanding Knowsley organisation, KPAIS (Knowsley Pensioners Advocacy and Information Service) 

1998

KPAIS was established in 1998 by a group of older people in Kirkby – The Retired Members Association. KPAIS was primarily an organisation delivering Independent Advocacy for older people and the driving force of KPAIS in the early days was Kathy McDevitt who had a strong passion for social justice. She wanted to make sure that older people not only had a voice but that that voice was being heard.

2004 

KPAIS worked with many older people to develop an organisation that delivered support in ways that older people wanted.  A welfare rights service was embedded from the start and in 2004 KPAIS was the lead agency in developing TASK (TrAder Scheme Knowsley) with a range of other Knowsley partners. TASK is still going strong today making a difference to older people’s lives.  

2014

Through 2014 -2017 KPAIS was proud to be part of the delivery of COPA (Cancer, Older People and Advocacy) a ground breaking initiative led by the amazing OPAAL (Older People’s Advocacy Alliance) 

2017

KPAIS no longer directly delivered advocacy from 2017 but retained the key elements of the advocacy principles in order to develop SHOP for You and to create A Good Life partnership with three other Knowsley organisations; KDC, TASC, Sight & Mind

Time for change

After many successful years helping older people achieve positive changes to their lives, the trustees, staff and stakeholders all agreed that it was time for change at KPAIS too. A new name was agreed upon and Better Lives is now ready to continue with the positive ethos from our past alongside a fresh approach to the future and we look forward to working with the people of Knowsley for many years to come.