Age Concern Hampshire Launches Christmas Campaign: “Let’s Spread Cheer into the New Year”

Age Concern Hampshire is thrilled to announce the launch of their festive campaign, “Let’s Spread Cheer into the New Year”. This campaign highlights the vital role the charity’s services have played in not only helping older people feel supported, valued, and connected, but also in bringing much-needed cheer and positivity into their lives, as well as the lives of their families and carers.

The key focus of this year’s campaign is to rally support from the public and corporate partners to ensure that the charity can continue its mission into 2025 and beyond. 

Donations raised through the campaign will enable Age Concern Hampshire to carry on offering these vital services, bringing much-needed cheer to even more older people in the year ahead.

Through images and highlights from the past year, the campaign will showcase how essential Age Concern Hampshire services are in delivering vital support and spreading cheer to older people at a time of the year when older people can feel particularly isolated.

Age Concern Hampshire’s services, include dementia support at their Care & Wellbeing Centres, support leaving hospital with the Hospital to Home Service, various social groups, and other community initiatives.

Said Hannah Park, Head of Operations at Age Concern Hampshire: “Our services are crucial in ensuring older people feel supported and valued throughout the year. With the help of public and corporate donations, we can continue to bring joy and comfort into their lives, not only this Christmas but into 2025 as well.”

Age Concern Hampshire is calling on individuals, businesses, and organisations to support the “Let’s Spread Cheer into the New Year” campaign by donating through their JustGiving page. The charity is also open to taking on local sponsors for the campaign. 

Every contribution will directly support the charity’s services, enabling them to continue offering care, companionship, and support to older people in need. Donate via Age Concern Hampshire’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/xmas24 or contact the Fundraising team to discuss sponsorship at supporters@ageconcernhampshire.org.uk

Founded in 1985, Age Concern Hampshire provide services to the older community of Hampshire. The charity currently deliver support at our Care & Wellbeing centres throughout the county, as well as Help at Home, Information via our Information Hub, Foot care clinics, Hospital to Home Services, Community Information Volunteer Services, and a variety of other activities. 

For more information, visit: www.ageconcernhampshire.org.uk

For people living outside Hampshire your local Age Concern or Age UK will be operating similar schemes for older people over Christmas just search for them using Google or Bing or visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk

Age UK Lambeth Launches Heartwarming Christmas Campaign ‘MYHoHoHo’ Christmas Day meal service

Age UK Lambeth is delighted to announce the launch of their festive fundraising campaign, ‘MYHoHoHo’, aimed at bringing joy and support to older individuals in the community this Christmas season.

Recognising the importance of connection and care for our older population—many of whom may be facing loneliness and isolation—Age UK Lambeth is determined to address the issue of loneliness, which affects 1.2 million older people across the UK. 

This year, they aim to raise funds to provide Christmas meals to those who will be on their own by matching them with local volunteers, as well as to help keep their services operational over the festive period, a time that can be particularly lonely and isolating for older individuals.

“We are excited to launch our ‘MYHoHoHo’ campaign, which is all about spreading joy and making a positive impact on the lives of older adults in Lambeth,” said Paul Coles, CEO at Age UK Lambeth. “This time of year is often challenging for many, and with your support, we can provide companionship, warmth, and vital resources to those in need.”

To support their campaign they're requesting for volunteers to sign up to provide an extra serving of their Christmas Day meal to a local isolated and lonely neighbour, bringing companionship and good cheer! 

They are also asking the community to participate by sharing their Christmas cheer and helping generate funds that will directly support Age UK Lambeth’s essential services and programmes.

Through JustGiving, individuals can donate and join in the festive spirit of giving, making sure no older person in Lambeth feels forgotten during the Christmas season.

All funds raised via the campaign will also go towards Age UK Lambeth’s vital support services, including home visits, social activities, and essential care for vulnerable older adults in the area. For more information on how to volunteer, please visit our website or to make a direct donation visit their Just Giving page.

A spokesman said: "Together, let’s make this Christmas a time of joy, connection, and support for older individuals in our community."

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/lambeth

Age UK launches its Together, We're Not Alone Christmas Campaign

Age UK has launched its Christmas campaign, Together, we’re not alone, and is putting out a call for support and donations to help those facing the festive period by themselves.

Loneliness can become more common as we age, due to ordinary life changes such as the bereavement of a partner, increased mobility issues or health complications. 

Many also feel the need to sacrifice their social spending to be able to afford the rising cost of household bills, especially following the loss of the Winter Fuel Payment.

Last year, Age UK found that nearly 1.4 million older people said they felt more isolated at Christmas than any other time of the year, while a similar number told Age UK that they would be eating dinner alone on Christmas Day.

However, Age UK’s research also shows that change is possible, with nearly a quarter of those over 65 (3.1 million) agreeing that just a phone call or a visit from a loved one, friend or neighbour would make Christmas easier for them.

That’s why donating to Age UK’s Together, we’re not alone campaign is so important. Funds raised will help the Charity to continue its vital work in tackling loneliness amongst older people, by supporting its free, national services, including its Telephone Friendship Service, The Silver Line Helpline and Advice Line, all of which are crucial for those who have no one else to turn to.

Age UK Telephone Friendship Service user, Ted, 89, first began to experience loneliness when his wife of 67 years developed dementia. She was moved into a care home and sadly passed away a couple of years ago: “When Jess went, it was so lonely. She was my life. We did everything together. I miss being able to go into a room and give her a little cuddle and a kiss.

“Age UK is so important. If I’ve got a problem, I know I can phone them up and they will be there for me. I look forward to the call with my Telephone Friend, Lisa, every week. If I’m feeling down, she takes me out of myself. I organise my dinner around it so we can have a good chat. It’s a lifeline really.”

Dame Judi Dench, who is Age UK ambassador, said: “The idea of being completely alone and isolated at a time when so many people are coming together with their nearest and dearest rally breaks my heart. 

Dame Judi went on to say: "No older person should feel like they don’t have anybody to talk to which is why I’m supporting Age UK’s ‘Together, we’re not alone’ campaign. Please donate to Age UK if you can this Christmas. Your donations will truly help to change lives!”

Obviously, Age UK can’t be there without the public’s support, which is why the Charity is asking everybody to donate what they can this Christmas. Together, the Charity promises to help change the lives of older people. Together, we’re not alone.

To donate, please visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/christmasappeal. Age UK has also launched a new Loneliness Guide which features the Charity’s latest information and advice on the subject as well as bringing together lived experiences from different focus groups. This can be found here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/loneliness-guide.

‘Say No to Socks, Get a Gift You'll Remember’ - Age UK Lambeth Launches Christmas Fundraising Campaign

‘Older Londoners are 50% more likely to experience food insecurity than the rest of England'

As the festive season approaches, Age UK Lambeth is pleased to announce the launch of its Christmas fundraising campaign ‘Say No to Socks, Get a Gift You'll Remember.’ 

Are you tired of receiving unwanted, dust-collecting presents year after year? This festive season, why not make a meaningful change by receiving gifts that truly make a difference? 

Ask family and friends for donations instead of naff gifts and make it a year to remember!

‘24% of older Londoners (over the age of 50) live in poverty’ (Age UK London - Poverty amongst older Londoners October 2023)

The cost of living crisis has hit our older population particularly hard. Rising energy bills and soaring food prices have placed a heavy burden on older individuals, many of whom live on fixed incomes. Age UK Lambeth is committed to ensuring no older person in our community is left behind during the holiday season.

‘Older Londoners are 50% more likely to experience food insecurity than the rest of England. Additionally, 58% of people in fuel poverty in London are over 60 (Age UK London, 2022).

This year's campaign is dedicated to addressing the profound challenges faced by older adults in our community due to the ever-increasing cost of living by asking people to replace those unwanted and forgettable presents with something that matters most: support for older adults in our community who need it. The funds collected will go towards essential services, including:

Winter Warm Hubs: With winter approaching, many older people will struggle to stay warm in their homes. Age UK Lambeth will provide a winter warm hub where they can come and stay warm, get a meal, and make friends

Energy & Money Support: Age UK Lambeth will offer advice and support to help people with their energy bills, benefits, and other essential issues that older people often face during the winter months.

Friendship Services: Loneliness and isolation are significant issues for older individuals, especially during the holidays. The campaign will fund our MYneighbour and MYsocial services to ensure the most isolated older people have someone to talk to and share the joy of the season with.

"Christmas is a time for joy and togetherness, but for many older adults in Lambeth, it can be a time of great hardship. The cost of living crisis has left them struggling to make ends meet, and we believe that no one should have to face these challenges alone," said Paul Coles, CEO of Age UK Lambeth

How it works:

Set up your Just Giving page which will connect directly to their Christmas campaign

Share the link with family and friends and ask that they donate there instead of buying you a Christmas present this year

Watch as you raise life-changing money for older people in Lambeth

Direct donations can also be made to our Christmas campaign through our website www.justgiving.com/campaign/auklchristmas2023, by calling 07749 850058 or by emailing fundraising@ageuklambeth.org.

They are also looking for volunteers to participate in their MY ho ho ho campaign. They are asking local volunteers to cook and deliver an extra Christmas meal for an older person in Lambeth. For more information please visit our website https://www.ageuk.org.uk/lambeth/get-involved/christmas.

For more information about Age UK Lambeth's Christmas fundraising campaign and how you can get involved, please visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk/lambeth/get-involved/christmas or contact James on 07749 850058 or email fundraising@ageuklambeth.org.