Every little helps!

We have raised a spectacular £¼ million in just two days for older people in the UK. The much-needed cash was collected in Tesco stores thanks to the sterling efforts of local volunteers and the generosity of the retailer’s customers.

Collections were held at more than 600 stores and 250 Age Concerns around the UK involving around 8‚000 volunteers. The charity’s biggest ever fundraising drive was made possible as Age Concern is the Tesco Charity of the Year.

All of the money given will go back into the community where it was donated. It will make a real difference to the lives of older people‚ particularly those who feel lonely or cut-off from family and friends.  The money will be used to fund lifeline services such as befriending schemes and lunch clubs‚ where older people can socialise with others.

Around 3.5 million people over 65 in the UK live alone and a shocking 1.9 million live below the poverty line. We help to overcome these problems by providing services to more than 250‚000 older people every week. 

Tim Mason‚ Chairman of the Tesco Charity Trust‚ said:

"What a fantastic result! We are delighted that Age Concern has raised so much‚ thanks to the generosity of our customers‚ the hard work of our staff and the Age Concern volunteers."

Gordon Lishman‚ Director General‚ Age Concern England‚ said:

“Our thanks go to everyone who helped out. We are really impressed with how much money has been raised in such a short space of time. All the money raised will help us to fund services that improve older people’s lives on a daily basis.”

We hope to raise £2million through our Tesco Charity of the Year partnership in 2005. Teams of Tesco employees are raising money for a better future for many older people in the UK by holding fundraising events throughout the year.

Notes for editors:

The Age Concern collection at Tesco was held on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 June 2005.

We are the UK’s largest organisation working with and for older people. It provides vital local services as well as influencing public opinion and government. Local Age Concerns work within their communities to support older people through a range of initiatives such as information and advice‚ befriending‚ day centres‚ lunch clubs and advocacy services.

Every year‚ Tesco adopts a national charity with a strong community presence to be the Tesco Charity of the Year.  This becomes the main focus for staff fundraising‚ which receives a 20 per cent top-up from the Tesco Charity Trust.

Media contact:

Age Concern
Zena Ambrose
Telephone:
020 8765 7350
Email:
Media Team

Tesco
Jenny Sacre
Telephone:
01992 644346 (day)
Out of hours
07071 243 243
Email:
Jenny Sacre