PRESS RELEASE
Main Contact: Karen Steele – Marketing and Partnerships Manager
Tel: 02920 683 604 / 07584 346 015
For immediate release: Tuesday 30th June 2020
The charity’s vital work has received video messages of support from two prominent local politicians – Alun Cairns MP and Jane Hutt MS as well as a certificate from Glamorgan Voluntary Services for ‘being awesome’.
Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale have always supported older members of our local communities who have little or no family support. As the Coronavirus crisis continues to hit, the number of people requiring its support has risen immensely and additional requests for assistance continue to be received daily.
Since the ‘lockdown’ began, Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale has taken more than 3,600 calls for information, advice, reassurance and social contact and arranges over 300 new weekly shops and prescription collections. The charity is supporting the most vulnerable in our community and needs help to keep them safe, well and reassured that there is help at hand.
Speaking of the support received, Jeff Hawkins, the charity’s Chief Executive Officer explains: ‘We are delighted to have received video messages of support from both Alun Cairns MP and Jane Hutt, MS. Both have been long-time supporters of our charity, in particular of our Senior Health Shop in Barry, which sadly, due to the COVID-19 outbreak, has had to close its doors to the many people who would visit each week. The charity is and will be facing a struggle to keep the Senior Health Shop financially viable and the support of Alun and Jane provides a real boost to our fundraising campaigns. The videos have been shared widely across our social media platforms and we thank them both for their support’.
In his video, Alun Cairns, MP for the Vale of Glamorgan comments that Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale do ‘a fantastic job in general but has come into its own throughout the COVID-19 period’ he continued by adding ‘a huge thank you for what they’re doing’.
Jane Hutt, MS stated that the charity had ‘responded brilliantly to the Coronavirus crisis’ and shared messages of thanks from Alan and Deborah, clients who have been supported by the charity’s shopping service.
Alan commented: ‘We are so thankful for the Age Connects shopping service; it has literally saved my wife’s life. And we always look forward to seeing volunteer Amy – a real ray of sunshine’.
The niece of another client shared: ‘The Age Connects shopping service has been superb and was up and running smoothly from the outset … my uncle Ronnie and I are both extremely grateful, you have been a true godsend. Thank you – you are very much appreciated’.
Recognition of Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale’s support services has also been received in the form of a certificate from Glamorgan Voluntary Services awarded for the charity’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. A letter from GVS states: ‘Congratulations on your superb community response to the COVID-19 crisis, your team’s volunteering has been priceless'.
Karen Steele, Marketing and Partnerships Manager at Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale acknowledges this recognition: ‘We are very proud to have received congratulations from Glamorgan Voluntary Services. The certificate recognises the Age Connects team and every one of our amazing volunteers and is awarded “for being awesome”! Thank you Glamorgan Voluntary Services and thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers – we couldn’t do it without you’.
Whilst working hard to meet greatly increased demand the charity continues to face a loss of vital revenue and a daily strain on resources. The loss of income anticipated through planned fundraising events and activities that have had to be cancelled will be thousands of pounds.
It is vital therefore for Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale to reach out with a request to help it secure much-needed funds to allow it to keep supporting those in need.
To show your support or make a donation visit ageconnectscardiff.org.uk
or follow the link: https://justgiving.com/campaign/helpushelp
#helpushelp.
----------------------------------------- End ------------------------------------------------
Notes to the Editor:
Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale is the operating title of Age Concern Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Age Connects Cardiff and the Vale is an independent local charity that has been providing services for older people since 1974. A local and independently run charity, which reaches out to older people in the region, many of whom live alone, are physically frail and live below the poverty line.
