A thank you that will help us support more older people

A generous £10,000 donation to Age Concern Hampshire has highlighted the lasting difference that practical support can make to older people and their families across Hampshire.

The donation was made anonymously by a husband whose wife received support from our free Form Filling Service last year, when her health was deteriorating. With the help of an Age Concern Hampshire volunteer, the couple discovered they were entitled to benefits they had not previously realised they could claim. The additional financial support made a real difference to them as the wife’s health declined.

Sadly, she has since passed away. Her husband wanted to give something back to Age Concern Hampshire in recognition of the free support they received.

The donation will help us support more older people to access the practical services and support they need, including our free Form Filling Service. The husband told us that the help they received had made a real difference during a particularly difficult period, and that he wanted his donation to help us continue supporting other older people and families across Hampshire.

The donation is also eligible for Gift Aid, meaning we expect to be able to claim a further £2,500 at no additional cost to the donor.

“For a local charity like Age Concern Hampshire, a £10,000 donation is incredibly significant and will help us continue providing vital support to older people across Hampshire. What makes this gift particularly special is the story behind it. It came from someone who experienced first-hand the difference our Form Filling Service and support of our volunteers could make at a really difficult time.

“For that support to have meant enough for someone to want to give back in this way is incredibly moving, and a wonderful reminder of the lasting impact our staff and volunteers can have on people’s lives. This generous donation will help us support more older people across Hampshire and help more people to access practical support, including through our Form Filling Service, when they need it most.”

Brogan Rehill, Head of Strategy, Partnerships & Community Impact

We provide a range of practical and social support to help older people live well and remain independent, connected and confident in their communities.

Our Information & Advice service, including Form Filling, can help older people and their families understand what support they may be entitled to and navigate what can sometimes feel like a complicated system. Our free service can support people with filling in forms such as Attendance Allowance, PIP, Pension Credit and Blue Badge applications.

We rely on donations, fundraising and the generosity of our supporters to help us continue this work.

Every donation, whatever the size, can help us continue supporting older people and their families across Hampshire.

“It has been a lifeline for us” How social groups are helping older people stay connected across Hampshire

For many older people, having somewhere to go each week, familiar faces to see and the chance to enjoy a chat and a laugh can make a real difference.

Age Concern Hampshire’s social groups provide welcoming spaces across the county where older people can come together, make new friends and enjoy a range of activities in a relaxed and supportive environment.

One couple who attend an Age Concern Hampshire social group recently shared just how much the group has come to mean to them.

“Age Concern social groups have been great for us because we really enjoy doing different things and being able to have a chat and a laugh. It’s a good place to meet new friends, we now regularly meet with those who attend the groups outside of and within the scheme.

“The groups allow us to keep our mental health in a good place, and we also get to do things like exercise and activities that get our brains in gear. We always look forward to the clubs.

“The volunteers and staff are really helpful, nothing is too much trouble, they go out of their way to help. They also join in with the activities which I think is really good.

“The groups have helped us a lot because without it we would be stuck at home. My husband is disabled and it has been a lifeline for us to be able to go somewhere we can enjoy.”

That sense of connection is at the heart of Age Concern Hampshire’s groups. Sessions vary depending on the group and the interests of those attending, but can include gentle physical activity, games and activities, opportunities to exercise the mind, guest talks, conversation and, importantly, plenty of time to socialise.

The groups are also becoming an important part of Age Concern Hampshire’s five-year Living Well in Later Life project, supported by funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.

The project is helping the charity expand opportunities for older people to stay active, independent and connected within their communities. Sessions are designed to support strength, balance, mobility and confidence, while creating opportunities for people to build friendships and reduce loneliness and isolation.

A key part of the project is investing in the people who deliver these sessions. Age Concern Hampshire staff have undertaken specialist training through the British Gymnastics Foundation’s Love to Move programme. This gentle, chair-based programme combines movement, music, rhythm and repetition, supporting physical movement and cognitive function in an accessible way.

The training means staff can adapt activities to suit different abilities and help people feel comfortable taking part, whether they are already active or are taking their first steps towards becoming more active.

Jemma Saunders, Community Engagement Officer at Age Concern Hampshire, is among the team members who have undertaken the Love to Move training.

She said: “Everyone is welcome and just give it a go. What we do is so beneficial not for the body and mind, but also feeling part of something and making friends. It feels so good after.”

For Age Concern Hampshire, this combination of activity and connection is an important part of helping people live well as they get older.

The groups aren’t about having to be fit, knowing everyone already or taking part in every activity. They are about having somewhere friendly to go, meeting people at your own pace and finding things to enjoy.

And sometimes, as this couple’s experience shows, a social group can become much more than a weekly activity.

It can become a place where friendships grow, confidence builds and people look forward to seeing familiar faces — and somewhere that makes the week feel a little brighter.

Age Concern Hampshire runs social groups in communities across Hampshire. To find out more about our groups in your area, visit our Social Groups page or call 01962 868545.