Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland appeal

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland are issuing an appeal for people to give what they can to enable them to provide vital services to older people in need this winter.

Winter can be a tough time. Miserable weather, dark nights, post-Christmas blues, feeling the pinch…it’s no wonder lots of us struggle. But as we get older, those long winter months can feel much harder. Cold temperatures can seriously affect our health. Difficulty getting out and about can leave us feeling lonely and isolated. Plus. soaring energy bills and the ongoing cost of living crisis can make surviving on a limited income almost impossible.

1 in 3 (36%) people aged 65+ in Great Britain described their financial situation as being worse than a year ago.

Local charity, Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland have launched an urgent appeal to the local community and organisations to give what they can to enable them to continue providing vital services to older people in need this winter.

Donations to the ‘Spread the Warmth’ campaign supports Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland in providing befriending calls and visits, gifting a hot meal voucher, emergency food parcel, home energy efficiency tips and advice along with help to claim many benefits that local people are unaware that they are entitled to.

Tony Donovan, Executive Director at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland said: “We are receiving more and more calls from older people really concerned about how they are going to keep their homes warm this winter and pay their bills. If older people become fearful of the cost of heating their homes, this is going have a catastrophic effect not only on their physical health, but their mental health as well. We want to keep local older people safe and warm at home, reducing the possibility of illnesses resulting in hospital admissions.”

You can help us spread the warmth to older people who need it most. Let’s beat this winter together. Donating:

  • £5.00 helps to provide a befriending call, providing companionship and connection for older lonely and isolated people.
  • £10.00 helps to provide a hot meal voucher offering a friendly, warm and safe place to eat a nutritious meal. 
  • £20.00 helps towards a trained adviser supporting vulnerable people via our Information and Advice helpline.
  • £25.00 helps towards an emergency food parcel.

Many thousands of older people in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland receive a winter fuel payment of between £250 and £600. For some, the payment is critical to keeping warm and well through winter but, for many, this benefit is less essential to their winter wellbeing.

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is encouraging anyone who does not need their winter fuel allowance to donate it to make winter warmer, safer and manageable for the very many older people already struggling to get by this year.

To donate to the Spread the Warmth appeal now, please visit https://fundraising.ageukleics.org.uk/donation/spread-the-warmth

Alternatively, you can write a cheque made payable to Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland. Please send for the attention of Fundraising, Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland, Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East, Leicester. LE1 7LA, and reference Spread the Warmthon the back of the cheque.

If you or someone you know needs more information, please contact Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland on 0116 299 2233 or email enquiries@ageukleics.org.uk.

URGENT APPEAL FOR SHOP DONATIONS

Having a clear out this festive season? Perhaps you’ve received an unwanted gift that needs a new home or you’re looking to declutter ready for a fresh start to the new year.

Local charity Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland has issued an urgent appeal for donations of any good quality, saleable stock including clothing, bric-a-brac, books and furniture to their local Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland charity shop.

Donors can take pride in the knowledge that all money raised from the sale of goods donated is used to support local, vulnerable older people in the community through services such as befriending for the lonely and isolated, information and advice for those struggling to pay their bills and respite services to support older carers.

Anthony Donovan, Executive Director of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland commented: “Whilst we have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity from the public in the last twelve months, currently our shops are desperately in need of stock.”

“We are a vital lifeline for many vulnerable older people and a source of support for not only them but their families who depend on us to support their loved one, as many do not live nearby. We rely on fundraising support and the public’s donations of pre-loved items to enable us to raise the funds to provide vital services.  By donating your goods now and on a regular basis you’re giving back and allowing us to continue to be there for those who need us the most”, he adds.

Donations can be dropped off at any of Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland’s shops during opening times (full list here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/leics/shops/) and collection of furniture and larger items can be arranged by calling 0116 299 2233.