A CAMPAIGNER for older people's rights has called on the Cats Protection charity to change its age policy - after a popular York volunteer had her contract terminated because she was over 60.

Barbara Sharp, 62, used to be shelter manager at the new Cats Protection shelter, in Huntington.

She had helped raise £200,000 so the shelter could be built, and spent eight years as a volunteer.

But as previously reported in the Evening Press, only three weeks after the shelter opened, Barbara learned her contract would not be renewed.

She was told this was because charity rules say employees must retire at 60 - even though, as Barbara pointed out, she was aged over 60 when she got the job.

The charity said "an exceptional arrangement" had been made to put her on a fixed-term contract, which expired.

Since then, volunteers at the shelter have walked out in protest.

And now, Graeme Moodie, the chairman of York's Better Government for Older People (BGOP) advisory group, has urged the charity's chief executive, Derek Conway, to change the charity's "ageist" policy. The BGOP advisory group, and York Older People's Forum, which Mr Moodie also chairs, are both committed to fighting age discrimination and campaigning for older people's rights.

Mr Moodie said: "It is irrational to throw out anyone merely because they are over a certain, randomly-fixed age.

"Whether employment is refused because a person is 60, 65 or 80, it is still wrong to do so without any reference to an individual's quality relevant to the work or responsibility in question.

"I understand Mr Conway is bound by policy on this matter, and that Cats Protection are not alone in pursuing this sort of policy.

"Nevertheless, I hope he will seek to have this unjustifiable policy changed."

Mr Conway said that the charity's policy has always been for employees to retire at 60. This applies no matter who they are or where they are working, he said.

"Sixty is the age limit and I don't think it is going to be changed.

"We don't want to offend people over 60 - we have a lot of members over 60 - but I think there is a moral responsibility to allow young people a chance in the job market.

"Working with Cats Protection can be an excellent opportunity for young people, especially if they have not had the chance to follow an academic career."

Updated: 12:55 Wednesday, September 19, 2001