Getting older brings an array of challenges and, in the face of these demands, Age UK Buckinghamshire is ‘a source of advice, information, companionship and support’ to assist over 4,000 older people living in the county ‘achieve and maintain their independence and wellbeing’.
As one of the over-150 independent Age UK charities, Age UK Buckinghamshire shares its ethos with its wider network: a commitment to older people through offering support and independent advice; companionship with their Befriending Plus and BOOST services; and championing the needs of older adults and ensuring their voices are heard by working with Public Health at Buckinghamshire Council on their Age Friendly Bucks Programme.
Their work is reliant upon the dedication of their 240 volunteers and 40 staff members, those that support them by hosting and attending fundraising events, as well as donations. A reduction in statutory funding has placed additional pressure on the services they offer, leading them to have to become more reliant on grants, fundraising and donations.
In recognition of the positive impact they have had throughout the county, our members voted in 2023 for the charity to receive our annual donation, which we recently presented to Mark Russell, the charity’s CEO, at our AGM earlier this year. He was able to share the significant contributions older people make to our local communities, but also highlighted why supporting older people is particularly important at the moment, as many older adults are still struggling post the Covid lockdown, and feeling the pinch on low, fixed incomes, due to the rising cost of living. Mark also pointed out that Bucks’ incidence of loneliness and isolation is significantly higher than the national average and that of neighbouring counties, so services supporting older people to reconnect with their local communities and providing them much needed companionship, are especially important.
Mark Russell told us ‘Age UK Bucks is so grateful to the members of Buckinghamshire Building Society for this generous donation, which will enable Age UK Bucks to continue to step up with services for older people at a time when they need us most. But it is also an important recognition that older people do so much in our communities, from working, employing and mentoring, to caring, childminding and volunteering, and that when their circumstances change and their own world shrinks, Age UK Bucks is there to support them.’
If you would like to find out more about Age UK Buckinghamshire, how to access their services or ways to get involved, please visit their website: Age UK Buckinghamshire
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