Age UK (an amazing charity that does essential work)
This organic tote raises funds
Age UK is one of the ‘big charities’ that it’s worth supporting, either through donations or their charity shops. It doesn’t test on animals, and uses its funds to do amazing work for communities nationwide. Here is just a quick rundown of the work their staff and volunteers do:
Age Co Advice Line
Age Co Advice Line (free to call) can advise on financial and mental health issues, plus winter heating allowances, housing associations and care homes. Be sure to use a benefits calculator (or have someone do it for you).
Lines are open 365 days a year from 8am to 7pm, One delivery driver called when an older lady answered in a coat and hat. He called age UK and a local person came round to sort out benefits.
The help is out there, it’s just a case of finding people to help them. They also get calls from housing associations to GPs, especially about scammers quoting hundreds of pounds to make simple radiator fixes etc.
Despite the name sounding a bit archaic, this is really is a wonderful organisation. It funds no animal testing and kind of also acts as an alternative Samaritans for people to call if they feel tearful or lonely or bereaved. It has wonderful free services by telephone and in-person, and does amazing work.
An example of someone who runs the telephone advice line in a typical day helps:
- A woman who needs help to apply for Attendance Allowance.
- Helping a person’s father get mobility aids.
- Getting help at home, to avoid going in a care home.
- Concern over care that someone’s relative is receiving.
- How to manage finances, with dementia.
- Concern over a spouse, if he she should die.
- Ordering a free Age UK LifeBook.
- Completing benefits checks.
- Helping to find affordable handyman services.
- Concern over paying care home bills.
AGE UK’s Befriending Service
Age UK offers a national befriending service in person or by phone. Again this is for 30 minutes a week for 12 months, and you are connected automatically for safety.
You are giving training and safety tips before you begin, If they need assistance, you are given their advice number, so they can call for help on benefits and other information. Find local services near you.
A Free Phone Befriending Service
The Silver Line is a free phone service, where volunteers provide friendship and conversation 24 hours a day (7 days a week) to anyone over 55 who is feeling isolated or lonely.
A wonderful way for chatterboxes to volunteer, many widowed and disabled people often don’t see other people for days. And although some people like to be alone, others may enjoy a chat and a cup of tea over the phone.
All calls are confidential (recorded for training and in case there are legal or safety concerns). So the recipient can speak to someone in the middle of the night, and they can’t sleep.
Read more on volunteer befriending services.
How to support Age UK
Age UK charity shops help to keep the service going. All the shops are run on renewable energy and bags are easy to recycle.
Some branches like Plymouth offer their own Teemill shops. Where you can buy branded organic cotton tees and totes made with green energy, and sent in zero waste packaging. You can also send back items at end of life, for recycling.
Profits help to fund local services to help local people, including those with dementia.
