News | Age Concern
downsmail.co.uk AgeUKreports on a busy year
THE work of Age UK Maidstone is growing, with referrals increasing by 11% in the space of a year, according to its chief executive.
The charity, which offers services
to help older people, had 689 refer- rals between April 2013 and March 2014, compared with 620 the previ- ous year. Chief executivePaul Coles told the
annual meeting that nine of the char- ity’s 16 projects had started within the past five years. The number of staff and volunteers had reached 160 and turnover had risen from about £960,000 to more than £1.1m. How- ever, changes in KCC funding to charities could mean that from March 31, 2015 it no longer receives a grant and instead has to make competitive tenders. An update was given on its proj-
ects: Day care facilities: Age UK con- tinues to run 12 centres on week- days. In 2013/14, 17,769 day care placeswere taken. Therewere 1,115 mentally-frail clients. Volunteer numbers had increased and more services were being offered. It had given GoldingHomessix computers at Harbledown House in Fant and hoped to run computer lessons in the future. Summer and winter out- ingswere enjoyed by clients. Goodman Centre: This dedicated centre in Bearsted offers respite for
Legacies
AGE UK Kent received more than £200,000 in legacies in 2013/14. The late Muriel Florence Childs
left £100,000, The Frank Baker Will Trust £93,885 and P Smither- man £9,528.
Chief executive Paul Coles
dementia sufferers. In the previous year 3,280 placeswere taken, with an average of 65 attendees perweek.A number of student nurses from uni- versity completed their work place- ments at the centre, and students from a local collegewere on perma- nent placement to complete their health and social care qualification. Footcare:Atotal of 3,024 clients re- ceived treatment in the home or at a clinic – in GPs’ surgeries, health cen- tres and day centres – during the year. There were 58 treatments per week. Clients were offered six weekly appointments at which nurses offered assessment, treatment and education. Disability vouchers: Funded by Maidstone Council since 2008, the scheme is aimed at people of all ages who qualify for a bus pass but are unable to use public transport be- cause of mobility difficulties. Vouch- ers are accepted by most of the larger
taxi firms, independent, cab and community transport. Users can get to the hospitals, opticians and give them a chance to do some shopping for themselves to provide independ- ence. A total of 458 voucher books were given to clients in 2013/14. Bathing: The four bath nurses gave 64 baths per week throughout the borough, and the number of baths for the yearwas 3,378. Independent living support serv- ice: This service helps older people remain independent in their own homes. Assistance is provided in day-to-day tasks such as cleaning, laundry, bed-changing, shopping and gardening. In the previous year there had been more partnership work regarding the poor state of people’s
homes.Anumber of clients were unable to cope with daily cleaning and the upkeep of their homes, so it was necessary to in- volve the charity’s advocate and the carers project to get their homes up to an acceptable standard. Befriending project: This began in March after a consortium including Age UK was successful in securing funding. It is hoped to benefit at least 15 older people in Maidstone, who could be given help to reintegrate into the community. The service is free for the first six visits and then costs £5 a session, which could be up to three hours. The pilot will run until July 2015. Independent advocacy services: This project deals with issues such as health, community services and con- fidence to express wishes and make choices. Aileen Davies, from the
Day centres
AGE UK Maidstone runs day cen- tres in partnership with Golding Homes at the following locations: Rosemary Graham Centre, SomnerWalk, ParkWood. Harbledown House, Fant Lane, Fant. Postley Farm, Eling Court, Loose. McCabe, McCabe Close, Staple- hurst. Shepway Court, Norfolk Road Shepway. Greenborough, Greenborough Close, Shepway. West Kent Primary Care Trust, Coxheath Centre, Heath Road, Coxheath.
project, said: “Advocacy is not only about services and systems; it is about standing alongside someone to help them alleviate feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, isolation and victimisation.” There were 116 referrals, of which 36% had been be- tween the ages of 70 and 79 and 33% between 80 and 89. Information and advice: The overwhelming topic of calls for as- sistance was financial matters (908 queries), particularly relating to changes in benefits and pensions. Other topics included: care (232); health (201); housing (156); educa- tion/leisure/travel (73);AgeUKserv- ices (51); consumer (19) and legal support (five). The majority of com- municationwas by phone (824 calls), with 94 home visits and 62 emails.
Volunteers a vital resource for charity
RETIRED residents have spoken about how volunteering for AgeUK gave them a new lease of life. More than 100 people volunteer
forAgeUKMaidstone, and each one who attended the annual meeting was given a certificate. Eileen Ray (70), of Bearsted, was
devastated after losing her husband and a son in the space of 18 months. “I needed something to do,” she said. Ayear ago she began volunteering
for at least two days a week at the Goodman Centre in Bearsted, un- dertaking tasks such as escorting people on day centre buses. She added: “It really improved my con- fidence, made me get out and do things I wouldn’t have done other- wise. I love it.” Barry Parker (66), of Boxley Road, Maidstone has been a voluntary driver for four years, taking clients to day centres on mini-buses. Hesaid: “Iwas lucky enough to re-
28 Malling December 2014
nice to give something back to the community. I try to have a good laugh with the users and show them a bit ofmypersonality.” David Morgan (72), who lives in
Hart Street, Maidstone, used to be a driver for Voluntary Action Maid- stone, but stopped after his wife Francisca died. Three years ago he began his current role as an escort on the buses. A former Navy and police officer,
Eileen Ray, Barry Parker and David Morgan with Jack Allen, second left
tire from my job as a catering man- agerwhenIwas 60. For the first three yearsmywife and I had an easy time – we had holidays, visited National Trust places – but after a while I thought I needed to be doing some- thing.
“I went to The Mall and saw the
shop that advertised Age UK. I wanted to do something different.” Barry volunteers two or three days
aweek, and his bus is nicknamed the “happy bus”. He said: “I get a lot of enjoyment out of doing this and it is
David said: “When you lose some- body you can go inside yourself if you’re not careful, and that is what I did. I lost contact but thiswas a great way of getting to be me again.” Age UK chairman Bryan Vizzard,
also a borough councillor for Heath ward, said the volunteers are “amaz- ing”. He added: “Without them we just couldn’t function.”
Volunteering opportunities can be found on our information hub.Go to
www.downsmail.co.uk
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