Age Uk Essex Newsletter

LATER
LIFE MATTERS
REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1091058
ISSUE 1 – DECEMBER 2016
FUNDRAISING
CAMPAIGNS
SEE INSIDE FOR FULL DETAILS
CHRISTMAS
CARDS
ON SALE
SEE PAGE 3 TO ORDER
STAY WARM
THIS WINTER
STAY SAFE WITH OUR TOP TIPS
FIND OUT
WHAT’S ON
SEE OUR PLANNED EVENTS
ON THE BACK PAGE
Donate to make later life better in Essex
TO DONATE £3 TEXT AUKE01 TO 70070

A WARM
WELCOME
We need to raise over £500,000
each year to be able to support vital
services for older people in Essex.
None of us know what lies ahead and at
Age UK Essex we want to make sure the
people of Essex can have the support they
deserve, whatever that may need to be.
From friendship to beat isolation, toenail
trimming to stay mobile or advice to keep
well informed, Age UK Essex wants to
make later life better in Essex.
A growing older population means demand
for our services is rising, so every penny
you can donate will make a difference and
mean that help can be here in Essex when
needed.
AGE UK ESSEX LAUNCHES
FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
As the days start to grow shorter we start
to think about changing the duvet thickness
and Christmas. But for many, the colder
temperatures and the onset of winter can bring
anxiety, loneliness and isolation. Not everyone
has family who keep in touch or can visit.
A friendly face or a phone call can make
someone smile. Despite cuts in funding, the
Age UK Essex befriending service is one of the
most robust and caring services in its field.
Did you know that 33,000 people are living
in isolation in Essex? We need to raise over
£500,000 each year to support vital services
for older people in Essex. Every penny you
donate stays in our county and helps older
people and their families in our local
community.
JEAN ROBINSON
Head of Income Generation
Donate to make later life better in Essex
1
TO DONATE £3 TEXT AUKE01 TO 70070

IS YOUR LIFE BEING SQUEEZED?
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE
‘SANDWICH GENERATION’?
Have you heard of the term and do
you recognise some of the challenges
those in the so-called ‘sandwich
generation’ face?
Being a ‘sandwich generationer’ – an elder
parent caregiver – is the term for those
sandwiched between their ageing parents
and their own children.
It’s a new stage of life no-one can ever
rehearse; it presents extraordinary challenges
which can be daunting and pressurised as
family dynamics change. Nationally, around
half of us fall into this category.
“As our parents become increasingly reliant on
loved ones to take the reins for their well-being,
the sandwich generation finds itself playing a
vital role in the health care choices and later life
decisions of older relatives,” said Age UK Essex.
“With more people living into their 80s and 90s,
everyone is going to be involved somehow in
caring for an elderly relative. If not today, then
tomorrow.”
“I’ve found myself part of the sandwich
generation,” said Lucy French, a busy, working
mum of four who lives in Fordham, Colchester.
“It’s daunting and sometimes I’m pulled in all
directions.
“I don’t want to cut corners when it comes to
looking after my loved ones, but there’s never
enough time for countless amounts of research
into what’s best. As my parents get older I need
to do more - access to independent advice
and information I can trust is helping me make
decisions in their best interests.”
Age UK Essex is here to help. Being the
key-decision maker can be stressful and
sometimes what is needed most is helpful
guidance and support from a trusted source
that brings information which is accurate,
reliable and easy to digest.
WHAT WE DO
Age UK Essex offers the following services:
• Benefits advice
• Befriending services
• Dementia support
• Information and advice
• Home help
• Access to tailored products or services
• Toenail trimming.
If you would like Age UK Essex’s support
for your loved one in Essex,
please contact 01245 207065 or email
fundraising@ageukessex.org.uk
DONATIONS / LEGACIES / FUNDRAISING www.ageukessex.org.uk 2

HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE
WITH AGE UK ESSEX CHRISTMAS CARDS
AS LITTLE AS £5 COULD HELP US CALL
A LONELY OLDER PERSON FOR A FRIENDLY
CHAT, WHILE £10 COULD HELP
PROVIDE A 30 MINUTE ONE-TO-ONE ADVICE
SESSION. £25 WOULD SPONSOR A
BEFRIENDER FOR A WHOLE MONTH.
AGE UK ESSEX RECEIVES NO NATIONAL
FUNDING AND £1 MILLION OF GRANTS HAVE
BEEN WITHDRAWN. WITH SUCH A DRAMATIC
LOSS IN FUNDING, YOUR SUPPORT IS MORE
IMPORTANT NOW THAN EVER.
Get in the Christmas spirit and send out the
perfect seasonal greeting, with one of our
charity Christmas cards.
Choose from six festive designs, with all
proceeds supporting vulnerable older people
in Essex.
The cards are great value at £3.50 for a
pack of 10. To place an order, call Age UK
Essex on 01245 207065. Payment can be
made by card, cheque or cash.
Special Delivery
Round the Christmas Tree
Evening Ice Skating
Taking Home the Tree
Letter Box Robins
Home Sweet Home
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TO DONATE £3 TEXT AUKE01 TO 70070

Age UK Essex is working
with T.R.E.E (Tendring
Reuse Employment
Enterprise) to turn your
unwanted furniture into
cash to help vulnerable
older people in Essex.
T.R.E.E are looking for furniture and
electrical items in good condition,
clean and in working order. All usable
items wi l be co lected for free.
For more information call
(Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 5pm).
Quote code AGE16 and 20%
of all proceeds will go to Age UK Essex.
Registered charity no: 1091058
no one should
have no one
at Christmas
To make a pledge, volunteer or fundraise, please call 01245 207065 or visit www.ageukessex.org.uk
PRUDENTIAL
RIDELONDON - SURREY 100
30 JULY 2017
Join a 100 mile cycle challenge that takes in
the iconic sights of London and the Surrey hills
on closed roads in a modified version of the
London 2012 Olympic Road Race.
Get on your bike at Queen Elizabeth Olympic
Park and follow the 100-mile route through
London and into Surrey’s stunning countryside.
We have a limited number of Gold Bond places
available. There is a £30 registration fee and a
£500 minimum sponsorship pledge.
To apply for a place, please contact Erika
for further information or call 01245 207065.
HELP YOUR
UNWANTED FURNITURE
CHANGE LIVES
Make space for Christmas and turn your
unwanted furniture into cash to help vulnerable
older people in Essex.
We are working with T.R.E.E (Tendring Reuse
Employment Enterprise) to upcycle furniture and
electrical items in good condition and working order.
All usable items will be collected for free.
For more information, call 0300 999 9007.
Quote AGE16.
Tree leaflet.qxp_Layout 1 18/05/2016 16:48 Page 1
Help your
unwanted
furniture
change lives
How to donate...
0300 999 9007
For more information visit: www.tree1.org.uk
DONATIONS / LEGACIES / FUNDRAISING www.ageukessex.org.uk
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HELP TO STAY WARM THIS WINTER
Here are some things you or your
loved one can do to stay safe this
winter:
• Get your heating system serviced every year
by a qualified engineer to ensure it’s running
safely and efficiently
• Dress in plenty of layers. Ensure you have
warm shoes or boots with non-slip soles
• Keep a mixture of salt and sand handy to
put on steps or paths in icy weather
• If water pipes freeze they can burst. Make
sure you know where the main stopcock is
and check that it’s easy to turn so you can
turn off the water if you need to
• Consider fitting a grab rail if you have steps
at your front or back door
• Keep simple cold, flu and sore throat
remedies in the house
• Follow up on your GP’s invitation to have
a flu jab
• Ask Age UK Essex for some room
thermometers for the lounge and bedroom
• Order repeat prescriptions in plenty of time,
particularly if bad weather is forecast
• Ask your local pharmacy if they offer a
prescription pick-up and delivery service
• Keep basic food items in the cupboard or
freezer in case it’s too cold to go shopping.
You could also do your food shopping online
and get it delivered to your door
• Ask your family, neighbours or friends if they
could call or visit you more often
• Keep a torch handy in case you lose power
and keep your radio, mobile phone, laptop
or tablet fully charged, so you can use the
battery power if there’s no electricity. If there
is a power cut you can call 105 for free. You’ll
be put through to your local network operator
who can give you help and advice
• Keep a list of emergency numbers, such as
your utility companies, by your phone
• Make sure you claim all the financial support
you can to help with heating bills – we can
help.
For further information, contact our friendly
and helpful team on 01245 346106.
DID YOU KNOW?
80,000 people benefitted
from our practical help
and advice last year.
5
TO DONATE £3 TEXT AUKE01 TO 70070

THANK YOU TO OUR
NEWSLETTER SPONSOR
IS YOUR WILL UP-TO-DATE?
Over 66% of people have not got a
will or an up to date will – Age UK
Essex has a limited offer to reduce
the cost of writing a will.
For our Free Guide to making a
will please call 01245 207065.
Age UK Essex does not endorse any adverts placed in the newsletter and can not accept any responsibility for the adverts placed.
MEET THE FUNDRAISING TEAM
WE WOULD LIKE TO
INTRODUCE AGE UK
ESSEX’S DEDICATED
FUNDRAISING TEAM.
• Jean Robinson,
Head of Income Generation
• Kimberley Gosden,
Relationship Co-ordinator
• Alf Mullins
Grants Officer
• Erika Patterson
Fundraising & Events
Co-ordinator
Please call 01245 207065 to
speak to the fundraising team.
JEAN ROBINSON
ALF MULLINS
KIMBERLEY GOSDEN
ERIKA PATTERSON
DONATIONS / LEGACIES / FUNDRAISING www.ageukessex.org.uk
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SAY HELLO TO OLLY
Meet our new mascot. He’s Olly the
Owl and he’s fast becoming a familiar
face at local events across Essex.
If you’d like Olly to
attend one of your events,
get in touch by calling
the team on 01245 207065
or email
fundraising@ageukessex.org.uk.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
You can help us raise the £500,000
we need each year to tackle loneliness,
dementia and the effects of later life in
Essex. After all, old age will affect us all
– either directly or indirectly.
Five Ways To Help Our Services Survive
1. Pledge to honour a loved one, sign up to
make a regular donation of say £5 a month
2. Host a fundraiser – get together with friends
over dinner, coffee, cakes or a pamper night in
3. Become one of our charity ambassadors
4. Take on a challenge from skydiving to cycling
5. Volunteer for us in one of our one off events.
Call 01245 207065 to ask for ways you could
get involved or alternatively take a look at the
ideas on our website so you can choose how
you’d like to support Age UK Essex –
www.ageukessex.org.uk
WHAT’S ON
3-4 December Children’s Christmas Fayre,
New Hall Vineyards,
Purleigh
6-7 December Rat Pack, Bublé and Robbie
Tribute Concert, Witham
Public Hall, Witham
Call Jackie
07960120119 for tickets
3-12 + 14-16 South Woodham
December Ferrers Sleigh Run
10 December Bag Packing Challenge,
M&S, Chelmsford
11 December Reindeer Trail, Central Park,
Chelmsford
17 December Bag Packing Challenge,
M&S, Chelmsford
22-24 Bag Packing Challenge,
December M&S, Chelmsford
30-31 Bag Packing Challenge,
December M&S, Colchester
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TO DONATE £3 TEXT AUKE01 TO 70070