Age UK helps Littlehampton, Shoreham and Worthing residents to understand benefits

A YEAR on from its foundation, Age UK is continuing to help elderly residents across Worthing, Shoreham and Littlehampton in gaining winter fuel payments and understanding the complex range of benefits to which they are entitled.

Its latest campaign, Spread the Warmth, comes in response to the fact that 250 elderly people die every day across the country as a result of winter weather.

As Caron Lewis, a senior manager at the charity’s Littlehampton headquarters revealed, its first year had been a memorable one, packed with challenges in linking together Age Concern and Help the Aged.

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One of its most high-profile events to date had been its Bobble Day, highlighting how vulnerable many pensioners were during the winter.

Caron said: “We’ve had a huge amount of success with the new charity, which has given us a strong national voice.

“It has taken some time for people to realise we are now just the one organisation, but they are responding well.”

Praising its 77 staff for their efforts, she said they could not manage without the invaluable support from more than 500 volunteers. Many of these people help with the county’s five day facilities, which include the Tamarisk Centre, in Littlehampton, and Laburnum Centre, in Bognor Regis, which have a total of more than 5,000 members.

Another area of its work is via a countywide helpline. There is also a “help at home” programme of community visitors which is recruiting for more volunteers.

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