Age UK Brent - Background and Current work and Plans

The main aim of Age UK Brent is to improve the quality of life of older people in the London Borough of Brent and to enhance their status and influence.

Age Concern Brent, has taken on the new brand working name of Age UK Brent from November 2010. We are an independent registered charity and a company limited by guarantee and has been registered in its current form since 1992.

Age UK Brent places a great emphasis on provision of high quality information and advice to older people from diverse communities in Brent, which according the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2004 the Borough of Brenthas a score of 29.5, out of a possible 50 and is ranked 81 out of the 354 boroughs in England. The lowest level of deprivation is in Harlesden and Kenton and the wards of Stonebridge, Kilburn, Wembley and Dollis Hill all have scores which exceed Brent’s 29.5.

There are currently 40,000 people in Brent aged over 60 of who 29,000 are aged 65 and over and 12.000 are aged 75 and over. Of these, in the 60 – 64 age group 13.8% live alone, while this figures rises dramatically to 47.6% amongst the 85+. Services such as AUB befriending scheme work to eradicate the isolation and loneliness experienced by these older people and are a vital resource for the older community in Brent.

Age UK Brent’s mission is to promote the well-being of all older people in the London Borough of Brent, and to ensure that later life is a fulfilling and enjoyable experience. This is done through:

  • Direct provision of services to help older people in need
  • Campaigning on behalf of people and transmitting their views and needs to policy makers and the public at large
  • Innovation and research to identify new and unmet needs
  • To ensure that the needs of older people are included in joint planning with statutory and other voluntary bodies.

Our Information and Advice team promotes independence and improved well-being by providing information, advice and support with decision making. Advice officers provide help with welfare benefits, health and housing matters, form filling and pensions. The team undertakes home visits for people who are housebound and runs a range of outreach surgeries in partnership with community organisations.

Age UK Brent is a well established organisation that provides value for money and has excellent financial procedures and a good organistional structure with an Executive Committee made up of trustees (50% older people) with expertise of providing governance to the Management and we are committed to equal opportunities in staff management and service delivery.

Age UK Brent is currently providing the following direct services in Brent:

  • Information Services
  • Advice and Advocacy – Drop-in, outreach, appointments and home visits
  • Outreach Surgeries – Sudbury Day Centre, Central Middlesex Hospital, Cricklewood Homeless Concern.
  • Befriending Services (face to face and nursing homes)
  • Telephone Befriending Services
  • Keep Fit Classes
  • Toenail Cutting – from day centres and clinics
  • Facilitate the Age UK Brent Older People’s Champions group.

We rely on paid staff and time given by over 90 volunteers to help us within all our services.

Funding for our Services – We get funding from the local authority and other trust funds and run a Charity Shop that raises income for us to provide the services for older people in Brent.

Strategic Priority

Our Strategic priority is to put together a Strategic Business Plan that will in cooperate the following:

  • Increase and expand the delivery of services to the older residents Brent.
  • To become more self-sustaining by diversifying income generating services.
  • To maintain our existing high quality of services
  • Work in collaboration with statutory partners, local and neighboring organisations to building solid foundation for delivery of future sustainable services.

Daksha Chauhan-Keys - Chief Officer

Age UK Brent–August 2013