ANNUAL REVIEW 2006 - 2007
WORKING WITH AND FOR OLDER PEOPLE IN ESSEX
This document is extracted from the Annual Review for 2006 - 2007. If you would like a copy of the full review document, with illustrations and additional information please contact the County Office at 112 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 6LF, telephone Chelmsford (01245) 346106.
Lord Braybrooke is retiring after 15 years as Patron of Age Concern Essex.
We wish to express our thanks and gratitude for his support over the years and extend our best wishes to him in his retirement.
We are delighted to be able to announce Lord Petre, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, has agreed to become our new Patron.
We look forward to his continuing contributions to Age Concern Essex.
Age Concern Essex is a registered charity, a member of the Age Concern federation and has been working to support and help the older people of Essex since 1949.
Our mission statement is “Age Concern Essex celebrates, supports and champions older people without prejudice or discrimination” and we are committed to providing quality services based on the real needs of the older people in Essex.
With the numbers of older people increasing (there are over 585,000 50+ in Essex), it will be a huge challenge for the NHS and Social Care services to meet the demands to supply care and support as older people need it. Essex has a greater population density of older people than the national average, (85+) so we see our work and the services we supply increasing and evolving, as older people need them.
From 1st April 2006 to 31st March 2007 our services helped over 21,200 older people in one way or another. That translates into 324,213 hours of work. We provide this help with 539 paid staff and 191 volunteers.
We work with Age Concern England, Essex County Council, Southend Borough Council and Thurrock Borough Council, the 5 Essex Primary Care Trusts, Hospital Trusts and other service providers, to collectively and collaboratively meet the needs of older people. Age Concern Essex and the statutory authorities share common “target” themes; to keep older people healthy, supporting them to stay in their own home, ensuring dignity, maintaining independence and encouraging choice. Older people tell us that they want a say in decisions that are made concerning services provided and want to feel that their contribution as an individual to society is valued. This is nothing more or less than anyone of us should expect. With these thoughts in mind Age Concern Essex is evolving and developing new initiatives and services to ensure we continue to champion, lobby, oversee and monitor, to make sure these needs are fully met.
Age Concern Essex is quality monitored and has achieved the Age Concern “Quality Counts” award endorsed by the Charity Commission as a quality standard.
Advice and Information
This service provides information and advice to older people, their relatives, carers, professional and non-professional groups.
The service is to provide information and advice to callers to enable them to make an informed choice.
We have a database of information and can signpost callers to achieve a positive outcome.
Befriending
The befriending service has been running for 5 years now and has established itself into a valuable and essential part of our profile. Befriending is almost entirely reliant on our volunteers who offer face to face befriending on a weekly basis or telephone befriending if older people prefer. This service has developed mainly around the Thurrock area. Now we have tried and tested methods and can evidence its value, we are working to expand this service and it will soon be available countywide.
Befriending helps to reduce social isolation and loneliness. It provides weekly contacts with older people who are often housebound and otherwise would not go out or indeed talk to or see anybody all week. We offer and arrange coffee morning meetings to those
isolated older people and provide the opportunity to meet other people in similar situations and socialise. One lady who recently came to one of our coffee mornings had not been out of her house for 4 years.
Referrals to the service are visited at home by our Befriending Service Delivery Manager, who will then arrange a volunteer befriender to make regular contact with the client. Befriending not only helps to reduce social isolation that can lead to depression, loss of dignity and self esteem, but signposts older people to access other areas of care and support as needed. This may be provided from our own in-house services, such as home support, or from other providers as appropriate.
Befriending adds 'quality of life' values to those who access the service and plays an important part in the early prevention, of health and social care issues.
This is just one of our services that really makes a difference to isolated older people and I commend all their efforts.
Counselling
This is a free service offered to older people who have emotional difficulties that impact on their life. Often this is because of bereavement or loss but can involve absolutely any personal issue.
The service is completely confidential, and provided by qualified counsellors or those gaining experience during the final part of their training. Active supervision is provided to all counsellors, as required by their professional registration body.
Home Support (subsidised)
The Home Support Service is the largest of our services. This service provides exactly what it says. It supports older people to live at home. This enables them to remain where they want to be.
This service supports older people to live independently with dignity, assisting them with the 'household chores', shopping or collecting prescriptions. It also reduces the need of the older person to access other statutory service providers. The home support service will also carry out a risk assessment on behalf of the older person to ensure their personal safety and security.
Home Support workers are CRB checked to ensure reliability and quality standards of working practice. Our workers (with the clients consent) often flag up social or health care issues, whereby early intervention may reduce the possibility of hospital admission or indeed a life threatening situation.
Hospital Advocacy
Our Advocacy service is offered to people in the community and to those who are in hospital. The advocate acts on behalf of the client, for the best interests of the client.
The demand for this service is increasing and will continue to grow as our population ages.
An Advocate may be asked to become involved when there are conflicts of interest or difficult medical or social care decisions to be made. The Advocate will act on behalf of the client, bringing all those together that have an interest in the client's well-being and negotiate reasonable solutions and outcomes, to an agreed and collective resolution to the conflict.
The client's best wishes are always seen as paramount. Where a client does not have capacity to make decisions for themselves the advocate will act in the clients best interests. The outcomes of this service are to ensure older people receive the best of care, can make informed decisions, and are given the opportunity to choose what they consider best for themselves.
For statutory services, the use of this service can reduce hospital in patient stay times, ensure best possible discharge placements thereby reducing the possibility of hospital re-admission and resolve conflict that could otherwise result in patient or family dissatisfaction.
We currently employ 5 full-time advocates across the county. Their job is not an easy one but it is hugely rewarding and completely necessary.
Toenail Cutting (subsidised)
The Toenail Cutting Service provides a service to older people who cannot manage this on their own. It is more than just toenail cutting. It enables social inclusion that gives stimulation to some older people who otherwise would be isolated and lonely. By maintaining older people’s toenails, it enables mobility, which in turn provides independence, and that gives choice. Being independent ensures dignity and comfortable feet reduces the possibility of falling.
This service also provides a rudimentary medical screening process. Signposting obvious physical conditions to clients GPs may reduce the need for urgent medical intervention and even hospital admission. It has developed out of a “real need”.
To experience the value of this service, for those who are able, just leave your toenails uncut for 3 months and see how it feels.
Trading
Age Concern Essex (Trading) Limited is an Appointed Representative of Age Concern Enterprises Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority for general insurance. Amongst our products are Buildings and Contents insurance, Motor and Motor Breakdown insurance, Travel insurance, Energy Services, Funeral Plans, Aid Call and Charity Flowers.
The commission we receive on sales helps support the charitable work of Age Concern Essex.
Shops
Age Concern Essex shops in Essex are operated by Age Concern Retail and we continue to receive 40% of profits of those shops located in Chelmsford, Clacton, Frinton, Halstead, Harlow and Loughton. This profit again supports our charitable work.
Social Activities
Music Hall
An annual event held at the West Cliff Theatre, Clacton-on-Sea. All profits help to provide and expand services to older people across the county.
Essay and Poetry Competition
This competition helps mental stimulation. A presentation afternoon is arranged for an invited audience of winners and their guests who enjoy a pleasant afternoon listening to the 1st prizewinners reading their winning entries.
Silver Surfers
A pilot group to introduce older people to computer skills and the internet.
Campaining
In conjunction with Age Concern England (recognised Campaigning Charity for 2006) we have promoted local campaigning on:
Malnutrition in Hospitals – “Hungry to be Heard”
Age Discrimination
Personal Allowance Expenses
Fuel Energy Costs
“Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be”
So said Rabbi Ezra in Robert Browning’s poem of that name.
And so it should be. People who have made their contribution to society in their earlier years – at work, bringing up their families, helping relatives and friends – deserve to enjoy their later years in good health and free from unnecessary worries. They should be valued for what they have done in the past and not allowed to become a burden to themselves and others in what remains of their future.
Fortunately, many older people are able these days to maintain their independence, keep fit and enjoy happy and fulfilled lives. But there are also those for whom this is not the case, not least in this County where the number of the very old is increasing more rapidly than in the country as a whole.
A large proportion of the County Council’s budget is devoted to providing care for older people and adults with disabilities. Even so they are unable to meet all their
needs, particularly now that hospitals are requiring older patients to be released into the community to free up beds for the clinically ill. The mission of Age Concern Essex is to fill many of these gaps, especially by helping those who are most vulnerable for reasons of health, income or isolation.
The gaps we fill are critical for the well-being of such people – home support, advocacy for older hospital patients, befriending, toenail cutting and a vital information and advice service on a multitude of subjects. Our practical experience enables us to champion effectively and forcibly with the statutory authorities the interests of the less fortunately of their senior citizens.
This year we welcomed a new Chief Executive, Tony Southam, who has been very busy acquainting himself with the organisation and developing good working relationships with those who fund our activities. To him and to all the staff and volunteers a very warm thank you from me, and more importantly, from all those you have helped during the year.
Sir Alex Jarratt, CB.,DL.,
In the years I have been associated with Age Concern Essex my experience has brought home to me the crucial support that services such as ours provide to local people and how much the voluntary sector generally enriches the provisions of social care to this area. The Government has reiterated its desire to see a robust and developing voluntary sector and we would wish to play our part. If the rhetoric is to become a reality, however, there needs to be genuine commitment and the voluntary sector needs to be seen not as a cheap option but as a partner that can offer a difference perspective.
The last year has been one of both challenges and achievement and as always the staff through their vision and sheer hard work have ensued Age Concern Essex has gone from strength to strength. The Service Delivery Managers and their teams are the backbone of the organisation and it is a tribute to them that Age Concern Essex is well respected throughout the County and beyond and while it has developed and changed it continues to retain its grassroots commitments and the support of the people of Essex.
There have been a number of staff changes this year including the retirement of Elizabeth Vale.
Elizabeth joined Age Concern Essex in 1991 as a Development Worker and then became the Service Delivery Manager of the Advice and Information Service.
All will be greatly missed. I thank them for their loyalty and commitment and wish them well.
We have, however, had the opportunity to welcome others and here I would give a special welcome to Tony Southam our new Chief Executive. Tony is already making his own individual mark on the organisation and I am sure that he will lead the team to build on the firm foundations of the past.
As always my Board colleagues have been a pleasure to work with and I thank them for their hard work and dedication. Age Concern Essex has a Board with a vision and energy and supported by a committed staff I believe we can look to the future with confidence.
Peter Payne
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ALAN ROBINSON It is with great regret that we have to record that our Treasurer, Alan Robinson, died on 5th May 2007. Alan qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1963. He joined Age Concern Essex as Treasurer in May 2005, working closely with our finance team in ensuring that we maximised our income and minimised our expenses, and keeping the Directors appraised of the financial situation. He undertook these tasks with unfailing good humour and expertise, and he will be missed. |
The charity had a successful financial year achieving a surplus of £213,073 before transfers to Designated funds and excluding Restricted Funds. Our Trading subsidiary has once again exceeded our expectations with a profit of £106,911. Shop profits have also exceeded hopes at £47,199.
Essex County Council have once again generously given a grant of £52,435 to support our core activities. This year legacies of £84,001 have been gratefully received. A significant part of the year’s surplus has been transferred to the Designated Reserves for Counselling, Toenail Cutting, Thurrock Befriending and Volunteer Co-ordination.
Our existing Services to the older people of Essex has been maintained this year and included Counselling, Hospital Advocacy, Home Support, Mobile Toenail Cutting, Thurrock Befriending and Advice and Information. A number of these services have been supplemented from our own resources but the major provision has come from the generosity of our many funders and the donations from individual clients and their families.
Our reserves totalled £1,658,670 at 31st March 2007 of which £871,200 are restricted funds, £485,579 are unrestricted/designated funds and £301,891 are unrestricted funds/free reserves.
Age Concern Essex is committed to celebrating,supporting,championing and campaigning for the older people of Essex. The purpose of these efforts is to support people to live a fulfilled life and remain independent in their own homes, enabling choice, with dignity and respect. These values are high on our agenda and reflective in our work and the services we offer and supply.
Population statistics show we are an ageing population, with the proportion of older people growing, like never seen before. This is going to bring real challenges to the statutory authorities and all of us, to provide services and care and to deliver the care needed. Older people themselves can see this not only as a challenge but a real opportunity to shape and influence the services now that will be needed. Society will have to rely on older people to play a significant role in the delivery of that care too. So this is an enriching time for recognition and championing causes. It is an important time to consolidate, take stock and make ourselves heard. However with continued lobbying, collaborative working and campaigning, we will make a difference. We need to be reactive, proactive, adaptable and flexible in our thoughts and actions. These are exciting times and it is a real opportunity we can’t afford to miss and at least be part of, if we are true to our values.
The majority of our work is already supporting older people to live independently at home. Where this is not possible, we will engage with the statutory services and advocate on the individuals wishes and best interest.
I am working to maintain the services we currently provide and explore new areas of service delivery, based on the real needs of older people. The reality is that there are always financial implications to the delivery of any service and raising funds is a priority. There is no finite pot of cash, so we have to be cost efficient in what we do and where we choose to spend money.
Politicians need to recognise that older people are becoming increasingly important as an electorate and they must satisfy and supply their needs to be sure of their vote.
I am committed to providing a quality and efficient service that meets older people’s needs and really make a difference. I am excited by the challenges and feel optimistic with the process.
My sincere and grateful thanks go to all our Directors, staff, volunteers and supporters without whose hard work and good intent we would struggle to deliver the services older people deserve.
Tony Southam
The titles for our Competition this year were “How we met”, “Left Behind” and “That was entertainment” all of which proved very popular. The standard of writing was particularly high and the judges had some difficult decisions to make.
The Presentation Afternoon was held in May at Ingatestone Hall where an invited audience of winners and their guests enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon listening to the 1st prize winners reading their winning entries. Lord Petre, Lord Lieutenant of Essex, once again kindly presented the winners with their certificates and prizes.
Our oldest contributor this year was a gentleman of 101 who, although wheelchair bound, came to the Presentation Afternoon and read his very moving essay entered in the category ‘Left Behind’ for which he won 1st prize. It was the first time he had been out of his house for thirteen months and his daughter said that the mental stimulation which the competition had provided had been more beneficial to him than any medication.
This comment alone I believe makes this competition a very worthwhile exercise.
Our President, Sir Alex Jarratt, who has for several years judged our overall winner of the competition, now feels it is time for someone else to have their choice of winner. In this respect I am pleased to say that Mrs. Theresa Cassels, our past Chief Executive, has agreed to step into the role.
I would like to record my thanks to Sir Alex for all his hard work and dedication to the Competition over the years and we look forward to welcoming him to future Presentation Afternoons when he can sit back, relax and enjoy the proceedings.
My thanks also to Mrs. Anne O’Riordan for her help and support in publicising the competition by way of talks and radio interviews and to all the judges for their dedication – without these people giving of their time so generously we wouldn’t have a competition.
Rita Hamlyn
Competition
Co-ordinator
2006/2007 was a very successful year for fundraising.
We received the balance of our share of the money from Age Concern nationally being Tesco’s “Charity of the Year”, bringing the total from this initiative to £13,505. A sponsored abseil of County Hall in Chelmsford was arranged with the help of our friends at Essex County Council, raising £2,926, and a supporter trekked the Great Wall of China, being sponsored for a total of £455 for us.
In addition, Paul Willis, the Captain of Gosfield Lake Golf Club, nominated us as his “Charity of the Year”, he and his fellow members raising £4,700, and Demi Robinson and her friends, students at Clacton High School, raised £402 at a social event for older people at the school.
We are very grateful to Paul, Demi, the intrepid abseilers, everyone else who has supported our fundraising ventures and the volunteers who help at the events. The money raised has all gone towards the cost of Age Concern Essex services, helping to keep them free or subsidised.
Each year we arrange a Music Hall at the West Cliff Theatre at Clacton. In June 2006 over 800 older people enjoyed “Putting on the Ritz”, a 1920’s and 30’s variety show given by The Berkeley Squares. We thank them, Mike Bareham and his team at the West Cliff Theatre, and those who volunteered to help for the day. The profit on the afternoon was £2,400, and this has also gone towards the cost of our services.
Just a little help can be enough to keep people living independently in their own homes .
Advice & Information
“What a relief someone actually answered the phone. Thank you for all your help and good sound advice”.
Mr.F. Chelmsford
“I felt I must write to thank you for sorting out my pension; really very grateful for your help”.
Mrs. C. Halstead
“More older people should be made aware of your excellent services”.
Mrs. L. Tendring
Counselling
“At a time when I was at a loss of where to turn, you brought Claire into my life. To say that she has made a difference would be an understatement. Through her I can now move on with my life, she has encouraged, listened and cared for me and I can’t thank you enough for bringing us together”.
Mrs. M. Maldon
Essay & Poetry Competition
“I worried that my father lacked mental stimulation so I seized the opportunity when I saw the Essay Competition advertised. He needed no persuasion and entered enthusiastically into recording his memories. He was delighted to learn that he had won a 1st prize (for the first time in his life, he says). As regards the ceremony itself; my father enjoyed every minute of it and appreciated the respect and kindness shown to him”.
Mrs. H. Steeple Bumpstead
Holidays
“Many thanks for accepting my father for the Sand Bay Village holiday at short notice last September. He had a wonderful time and met many new friends.”
Mr. C. Bishops Stortford
Home Support Service
“I would just like to say thank you for your help. I am 86 and cannot manage my own shopping but through Age Concern now have help. During the past months I have been looked after by three very kind and helpful ladies, and I look forward to seeing them each week”.
Mrs. O. Canvey Island
“Thank you for sending us Wendy. She worked very hard and diligently non-stop, made very useful suggestions to improve our routine and displayed a very happy and friendly disposition. We look forward to her future helpful visits”.
Mr & Mrs F. Brentwood
Hospital Advocacy Service
“We would just like to express our appreciation of the support, understanding and care that was shown to my mother whilst she was hospitalised and in rehabilitation. We really do not know how we would have managed a very stressful period without your help”.
Mrs. M. Chelmsford
“Just a note to thank you that with your help Mum spent nearly 2 years at home when many thought she should be in a home. Keep up the great work”.
Mr. L. Basildon
Music Hall
“Just a note to say how much we all enjoyed the Show at Clacton. It was a real laugh – the best for a long time”
Mrs. R. Takeley
“Thank you for arranging such an enjoyable event. The show was brilliant – very lively and polished”
Mrs. B. Maldon
Shops <
“I would highly recommend working as a volunteer in an Age Concern charity shop, even if you only have an hour a week to spare, because it makes you feel useful and part of a team
Chelmsford
Speakers
“Just a line to let you know that our Club enjoyed the talk given on the many services that Age Concern Essex provides, together with leaflets. We were very impressed with the presentation which came across very clearly and in a language that we could all understand”.
Mr. R. Great Baddow
Toenail Cutting Service
“I have attended your mobile toenail cutting service on two occasions and what a marvellous service it is. The young ladies in attendance are so friendly. Looking forward to the next session. Long may the service continue”.
Mr. M. Walton-on-the-Naze
Thurrock Befriending
“Thank you for the regular telephone contact made by the ladies based in Purfleet”. The “Tea & Chat” session held at Chadwell St. Mary was a superb added bonus! Please accept and pass on my sincere thanks to all at Age Concern Essex”.
Miss W. Stanford-le-Hope
REPORTS FROM THE SERVICE DELIVERY MANAGERS
In the last year Advice and Information have dealt with 9,835 enquiries on numerous topics and from all areas of Essex. The main topics continue to be regarding benefit entitlement and advice on filling in claim forms. With this in mind, I have recently approached and met with other stakeholders who provide an outreach service to carry out home visits to assist with benefit checks and filling in forms. with so many changes taking place it appears to be vital that we work in partnership with outside agencies. By doing this we hopefully can help maintain services and work towards developing new collaborative partnerships that will enable us to meet the needs of older people in Essex.
My aim over the coming months will be to continue to meet other statutory and voluntary organisations to promote and raise awareness of the services of Age Concern Essex, and our role as an important link to accessing other organisations. The voice that is so important to listen to is the person in need and by monitoring and meeting with older people, carers and relatives, Advice and Information can gauge and highlight areas where services are lacking and this gives a good indication where services need development. By doing this I am hopeful that all older people can be aware of the activities of Age Concern Essex, without feeling isolated or excluded.
A lady said to me recently “I stand at my window for what seems like hours and watch people go by. I smile at them, not many smile back, no one waves, I don’t think they even notice me. I only want someone to talk to; I’m so lonely”. With the help of Advice and Information, a local lunch club and community transport, this lady now has some social interaction. This makes my job so worthwhile.
The staff of the Advice and Information Team, are dedicated and committed to working for and on behalf of the older people of Essex and are enthusiastic to reach new goals.
Ann Fisher
Following increases in the previous year in both referrals of new clients and the number of volunteer counsellors working with these referrals, the last year has been more one of consolidation.
The service has a combination of qualified counsellors and those placed with the service as part of their final diploma level of training on reputable courses. As a result of the latter, there is an inevitable turn over to some extent in counsellors working with us. However, it is very satisfying to report that we have an increasing number of counsellors who are remaining with the service for at least a reasonable period after qualification and that very much adds to the experience level that we are able to take to the work with our clients.
We also now have a very strong supervision base with two experienced supervisors supporting the work of the counsellors. Due to a slight drop in the December quarter, referrals were a bit lower than the previous year but, taking out that one quarter, the trend of a small increase remains. Counsellors work with their clients on a weekly basis for 50 minute sessions and remain with the clients while there is a therapeutic basis for continued work. Currently we have 48 clients receiving counselling and 23 volunteer counsellors.
We have been very grateful this year to the Lloyds TSB Foundation who have covered the travelling costs of our counsellors (they are also contributing towards covering those costs for the next year) and are grateful to the Directors of Age Concern Essex for their continued commitment to ensuring that this service is provided.
Finally, I would like to thank everyone connected with the service for their superb work and support which makes such a difference in the lives of the older people who we work with.
Michael Gates
Every year when I do the end of year statistics it continues to amaze me that we manage to increase the number of hours of housework we provide to older people.
At the end of this financial year we have covered a staggering 134,243 hours. We have 474 workers who have helped over 3,000 older people.
We have incredible workers, providing so much more than just housework. They bring friendship, conversation, and outside interests to older people and carers who would otherwise have to try to cope on their own.
The service is just that little extra help that undoubtedly helps stop isolation, loneliness and depression in older people and helps them to remain living independently in their own homes with dignity.
Workers and clients become friends and good relationships build. The workers care very much about their clients and have a good knowledge of all areas of Age Concern Essex and are able to point clients in the right direction should they need to use any of them.
I would like to give my thanks and appreciation to my team of very dedicated Co-ordinators and two Operations Managers, who run the service so smoothly and efficiently, often having to cope with numerous difficult situations every day. It is a tribute to them that they continue to build the service and provide it to more and more people each year.
Linda Inglis
Last year all three advocacy services had their busiest ever year with nearly 600 referrals being made to the service. In common with the national situation our local health and social care service providers have found themselves in a difficult financial situation, requiring them to make difficult decisions. The situation together with preparation for the Mental Capacity Act has created greater challenges for our advocates in their quest to help older people who find themselves in the middle of this difficult situation.
We have been fortunate in that, despite the current difficult financial circumstances, we have received additional new funding from Essex County Council sufficient for us to start a new advocacy service for the residents of the Brentwood, Billericay and Wickford areas. Colette Saveal took up this new post from the 1st April; her primary role will be to provide a hospital based advocacy service but she will have a secondary community advocacy role as well.
Another major development in our advocacy services is that from 1st April in partnership with Age Concern Colchester we have taken over the community advocacy services previously supplied by the North Essex Advocacy Team (NEAT). Belinda Griffith who previously worked for NEAT has joined us to continue her role in co-ordinating the provision of this valuable service.
All in all our advocacy service has had a very busy and eventful year not only in dealing with the increased work load and new challenges but also in the preparation and taking part in various tender documentation and the attendance of mandatory training for the Mental Capacity Act.
The function of the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) is to be an extra safeguard for any person over the age of sixteen who has lost mental capacity, who have no close relative and are in situations where they need serious medical treatment, change in accommodation or are thought to be involved in abuse situations. The involvement of an IMCA in these situations is now a legal requirement. Further information on this Act can be provided from Age Concern Essex.
I would like to thank my colleagues Gary Clinton and Sarah Tolson for their dedication and hard work over the last year. I would also like to thank Essex County Council, the past and present Primary Care Trusts and the Mid Essex Hospitals N.H.S. Trust for their continued financial support of the services especially as they themselves have had to make difficult decisions about their own service provision.
Graham Wilmott
This service is going through a period of change. The familiar large mobile van is being phased out due to its age and running costs.
We are moving towards operating out of static sites in clinics, hospitals and some sheltered housing units. If anyone knows of possible rooms that we could use please contact us.
From April 2006 to March 2007 our trimmers trimmed the toenails of 7,228 pairs of feet. All these people were unable to cut their own nails but did not qualify for NHS treatment and if not for our service they would have started to have serious mobility problems.
During the year we had 603 missed appointments that people did not cancel. Non-cancellation means we do not have the chance to give these appointments to other people.
Due to this and the serious financial situation the service is in because of lack of funding, it was decided in January 2007 to charge for missed appointments if we had not been notified of the cancellation.
All the staff involved with the Toenail Service are dedicated to keeping it running and I would like to thank them and also all the volunteers who give their time to do admin work at venues, for their continued commitment and hard work doing not the most glamorous but a very essential job with a caring attitude and a daily smile.
Linda Inglis
The Befriending Service has now been successfully operating across Thurrock for 5 years. We have 45 volunteers providing a visiting service to clients at home on a weekly basis. I am proud to say that all our volunteers are extremely dedicated and committed and have happily given up a total of 4,968 hours of their time over the past year, which is always very much appreciated by all.
We are now providing a service to 92 older people across Thurrock, who are housebound, lonely or isolated and in need of company and friendship.
I have come to realise over time that the service we are providing is valuable to many clients, who have come to rely on us for support and links to other services. I am always amazed at how such a simple idea like giving an older person just one hour a week for a general chat, makes such a huge difference to their general well-being, quality of life and mental health.
Ruby Summers joined us on the 19th March to develop the Telephone Befriending Service. She telephones all clients waiting for a befriender once per week for a friendly chat to maintain contact and monitor their general well being.
The monthly “tea and chat” sessions are going very well. Many clients have now swapped telephone numbers and are contacting each other by telephone or by using the local community transport service to visit each other at home. We also provide a free book service at these monthly sessions and would like to thank everyone who has donated books, which now include large print and talking books for visually impaired clients. We give them to all clients who express an interest, completely free of charge.
We have provided a service for 196 older people across Thurrock since the beginning of the service 5 years ago, so there is no doubt we are meeting a need.
In the future I would like to see the Befriending Service extended across Essex to benefit all older people experiencing the effects of loneliness and isolation.
Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to all our volunteer befrienders who do such a wonderful job all year round and make the service a success.
Diane Nicola
Over the year a total of 191 volunteers have supported our services across Essex and provided 10,830 hours of dedicated work! 50 of these people were daring enough to abseil down County Hall last July; these volunteers raised £3,000 for Age Concern Essex.
It has become more difficult to recruit volunteers; there are a huge number of charitable organisations that also require volunteers so people have a larger choice, which means we have to work harder to attract them.
As well as my traditional recruitment methods we have had to think of novel ways in which to recruit volunteers for example:
Working collaboratively with Ford Motor Company; their employees are given two days a year to work within the community. Their IT department is helping us develop a Silver Surfing project where older people will be taught basic computing skills and learn how to use the internet and email. Chelmer Housing is also playing a big part by providing a venue for the training and encouraging their clients to attend.
We have also continued to support local clubs and groups throughout Essex by helping them to recruit volunteers and trustees to help sustain their future.
Once we have recruited the volunteers we have to continue to work hard to retain them making sure the volunteer feels supported and valued.
Over the year we have organised events to say thank you to our volunteers and to give them the opportunity of getting to know other volunteers to share experiences and encourage peer support. We have developed a Volunteer Handbook as a reference point for practical information and we send out a newsletter to help keep volunteers informed and updated on Age Concern news and events.
Whether a volunteer gives one hour a month or one day a week, whether they volunteer on the toenail van, carry out office admin, sit on the board of Directors or abseil down a building, each and everyone of them is just as important.
Thank you to you all.
Jacqui Mee
Our 40% share of the profits of the Age Concern shops in Essex contributed £53,000 to our surplus, a 10% increase over the previous year. As we share this with those Age Concerns local to where the shops are, we were pleased to be able to contribute a little more to local activities and services for older people.
The Chelmsford shop has moved from its High Street site to a new site in Moulsham Street, with improved sales towards the end of the year.
The new Loughton shop made a slow start, but we are hopeful of improving results in 2007/08. Our other shops all made steady progress.
We were very sorry to lose Dagma as the manager of the Halstead shop, but she has remained with Age Concern Retail by taking over the Tiptree shop, which is in the area covered by our colleagues at Age Concern Colchester. We welcomed Maxine as her replacement, and Denise as the new Loughton manager.
Sarah, Sally, Pauline and Lisa continued to run the other four shops with their usual skill and expertise, assisted by their staff and volunteers, and by Shirley, the Regional Sales Manager for Age Concern Retail.
Our shops are facing even stiffer competition than before, and it is good to see Age Concern Retail responding to this by continuing to ensure the shops are smart, well stocked and well managed.
If you wish to play your part by donating good quality clothing, bric-a-brac etc. please contact your local shop:
Chelmsford 01245 347322
Clacton 01255 475261
Frinton 01255 852033
Halstead 01787 478994
Harlow 01279 411918
Loughton 0208 508 5848
Peter Bland
Trading Manager
AGE CONCERN ESSEX (TRADING) LTD
COMPANY NO. 2914718
Once again, the Trading company made a magnificent contribution of £106,000 to the funds of Age Concern Essex. Without this contribution, many of the services would not be able to continue in their present form.
This excellent result has been achieved against a background of increased competition in the insurance market, with many providers trying to attract the business of older people, who they know have fewer insurance claims. However, the name and reputation of the Age Concern brand is important in retaining and expanding our business, as does ensuring the products remain competitive. As competition is still increasing, 2007/08 and subsequent years will be challenging.
The regulatory regime under the Financial Services Act has again placed a considerable training and competency burden on the insurance team, and they have responded superbly. Those of you who are among our clients will know that the team of Denise, Michelle, Trevor and Deni pride themselves on giving a first class service in person or over the phone, and it is thanks to them that this result has been achieved. Our thanks are also due to Ann Bennett from Age Concern Enterprises, for her invaluable support.
In conjunction with John and Stuart, our partners at InterChoice, we once again successfully arranged a number of holidays specifically designed for older people. It is very pleasing to see how many of our holidaymakers book with us year after year – proof that the excellent personal service that Mary gives to our clients is much valued. Bookings for 2007/08 are looking very promising even at this early stage.
Tony Shelton – Chairman
Make a donation
Remember us in your Will
Help with fundraising activities
MAKING A DONATION
There are several ways of making a donation to our work:
By post
Please send cheques/ postal orders to: Age Concern Essex, 112 Springfield Road, Chelmsford CM2 6LF
Gift Aid
Completing a Gift Aid form will enable us to maximise the value of your gift. If you currently pay tax please ask for a Gift Aid form.
REMEMBERING AGE CONCERN ESSEX IN YOUR WILL
By supporting us in this special way, you can help our work to continue long after your lifetime.
HELPING WITH FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES
Help raise funds by organising a sponsored walk, hold a stall at a fete or arrange a coffee morning.
ALL MONEY RAISED IS USED IN ESSEX TO BENEFIT OLDER PEOPLE
Age Concern Essex is a Company Limited By Guarantee No. 4309519 and a Registered Charity No. 1091058.
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