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Help the aged and age concern england have moved a step closer to creating a new charity to best serve the needs of older people across the uk and around the world

Both Boards of Trustees have now agreed to commence an extensive consultation process with their partners.  These include 353 Age Concerns in England, Help Age International and the independent Age Concern organisations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The two charities are also embarking on the formal stage of due diligence before making a final decision in September about the creation of a new organisation.  

Decisions about a name, organisational priorities and other associated issues connected to the creation of a new charity will be made over the coming months.  We will also move to appoint a chair and trustees for the new charity.  Both charities are now seeking support and positive feedback from their partners, friends and allies.

Age Concern England Chair Catherine McLoughlin said:

“We intend to combine the strengths of two powerful organisations into a new Charity which will deliver even more for older people. The new Charity will provide high quality services and ensure the voices of older people are heard wherever their interests are at stake.  

“Spending time and energy operating separately no longer makes sense.  Instead, we intend to pool our talents and resources to ensure older people’s needs receive the even greater focus they deserve.

“The challenges facing us are stark.  The social care system is teetering towards total collapse.  Age discrimination is the most common and most acceptable form of prejudice in the UK.  The need for the strongest possible advocate for older people’s rights and dignity could not be clearer.”

Help the Aged Chairman Jo Connell said:

“With an increasingly ageing population in the UK and across the world, there has never been a greater need or a more compelling reason for such an organisation.

“The demands of an ageing society mean that this in-principle decision – which has been taken collaboratively and in partnership – is the right one for older people today and tomorrow. There is an urgent need to protect the human rights of older people as well as ensuring that our ageing society recognises the enormous contribution they make.

“Both charities will continue their vital, independent work over the next few months and no instant, dramatic changes are planned.  Consultation with our partners will continue so as to gather their views on this important process.  It is our intention to meet as a Board in September for a final decision, subject to that crucial feedback.”

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For further information, please contact:

Paul Bates, Media Manager, Help the Aged
Paul.bates@helptheaged.org.uk   020 7239 1941

Brendan Paddy, Media Manager, Age Concern England
Brendan.paddy@ageconcern.org.uk 020 8765 7350