Age UK Horsham District to host first charity golf day

The charity runs activities across the Horsham district and is facing increasing financial challenges as the life expectancy continues to rise.

Their flagship service, Information & Advice is there to help and last year the two, part-time members of staff who provide this service unlocked £1million in unclaimed benefits, made 475 visits to people in their homes and received approximately 75 phone enquiries every month. This service is provided free to Horsham District residents but the charity needs to raise £40,000 each year to keep this vital service running, which is where events like their golf day on Friday July 12 come in.

The day, at Wildwood Golf & Country Club on the A281 in Alford, starts at noon with the customary bacon buttie with tea and coffee on arrival. Following registration, players will be treated to 18 holes on Wildwood’s beautifully kept course before retiring to the picturesque clubhouse for a special three course meal, auction, raffle and prize giving.

The day promises to be a fantastic day of sport and fun for all involved but it must be noted that the motivation for their fundraising is a very serious and current subject.

The issue of how we care for people in later life continues to gain momentum and even featured as one of the measures incorporated in the Queen’s Speech last week setting out the government’s legislative programme for the year however it is still the case that locally, Age UK Horsham District is encountering funding challenges at a time where the demand on their services increases.

In Horsham district there are currently 25,900 people aged 65 and over and this is due to rise to 35,000 by 2022 with many of this number needing support.

Billingshurst & Shipley, Chantry, Cowfold, Shermanbury, West Grinstead, Denne, Henfield, Holbrook East, Itchingfield, Slinfold, Warnham and Roffey South all have over ten per cent of their elderly population living in low income houses, but topping the bill is Horsham Park with 17 per cent (nearly one in five).

Many of these people are eligible for help and Age UK Horsham District are providing the answers.

Janice Leeming, CEO of Age UK Horsham District said: “The need for adequate funding for our charitable services has never been greater. We know that there are areas of the district where there are isolated older people experiencing great hardships and we are committed to helping as many as we can.

“In order to do this we require the support of our community and one of the opportunities we are offering for local people to get involved is this golf day.”

Lawrie Mallyon, their community fundraiser added: “We are holding this event to act as a beacon for our charity and we really encourage people to get in touch and hold their own events. There are so many wonderful older people we come into contact with that deserve a helping hand but our resources are find it hard to compete with the need.”

If you wish to attend and support your community, you can enter as an individual for £70pp or teams of four can enter for £250. To raise the profile of the day they are also offering a variety of sponsorship opportunities for corporates and businesses to advertise themselves whilst supporting this local charity. For details or to get a registration pack call Lawrie on 07910 385926, email [email protected] or visit their website www.ageukhorshamdistrict.org.uk to download a pack.