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8 swindonlink.com • October 2008
Cash crisis forces major changes upon Age Concern Swindon
In order to safeguard the future of important community services to older people in and around Swindon, the trustees of Age Concern Swin-
don have agreed to radically alter the way the organisation is run from 31 March 2009.
Discussions are in hand to trans- Concern Swindon can pay for.” very much hope we will be able
fer as many services and activities The charity marked 50 years to transfer some essential services
as possible and the changes will be of providing high and increasing to another organisation so that the
spelt out at Age Concern Swindon’s levels of services to older people in Age Concern presence will be main-
Annual General Meeting on Friday Swindon in 2003. Now, in order to tained – albeit not Age Concern
3 October. try and safeguard its core activities Swindon. We have no intention to
Age Concern Swindon director such as providing information, wel- let down the thousands of older
Jo Osorio said the charity had been fare benefits advice and the visiting people who rely on us each year for
using reserve funding to keep ser- and befriending service, the trustees information, advice and practical
vices to older people going because have reluctantly reached the con- help. If we can manage to do this,
grants from other sources were clusion that it has to transfer some our users will notice little difference
insufficient or unavailable. “This services to other providers. in the delivery of services from 1
has left the organisation vulner- Mr Osorio said, “charities like April next year – but the task is
able to unexpected costs and recent ours have to assess the risks in- considerable and complex.”
changes in pension legislation have volved in maintaining services by One consequence of the radical
imposed extra demands on the spending reserves and at one stage financial reorganisation is that Mr
organisation. The revised pension the council threatened to reduce Osorio and a number of other senior
contributions required from the Jo Osorio, to be made redundant from our grant aid because at the time staff will be made redundant.
charity are now more than Age Age Concern after 22 years we held reasonable reserves. We Age Concern Swindon still
needs to raise funds to sustain its
services. Donations and offers of
support should be made to Age
Concern Swindon, Number One
Milton Road, SN1 5JE or online at:
www.justgiving.com/ageconcern-
swindon
• Information, advice and practical
help is available from the organi-
sation’s Milton Road office from
Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
Tel: 692166 or email swindon@
ageconcernswindon.org.uk
Senior support,
the tasty way
On 19 October Age Concern
launches its first ever Great Sun-
day Lunch to raise funds to help
provide services and support for
older people
People across the UK are asked
to bring together friends, family,
colleagues and acquaintances for
a meal.
Mel Richards of Age Concern
Swindon said, “you don’t have to
wait for 19 October, or even hold
a fundraiser on a Sunday, but it is
a traditional time to meet up with
family and friends - perhaps ask
people to bring a dish and contrib-
ute to Age Concern.
“Sadly, this doesn’t apply to
everyone and older people are
particularly likely to be isolated.
This new fundraising initiative is a
great chance to help with the work
that Age Concern does to relieve
isolation in the community.”
If you plan to host a Great Sunday
Lunch let Mel Richards know by
calling 692166 or mail: Mel.Rich-
[email protected]
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