LAUNCHING ANOTHER LIFELINE FOR OLDER PEOPLE

The Age UK Essex team behind the successful BefriendingService, which has provided such a lifeline to so many lonely and isolated older people inside their homes, is stepping out.

Active Lives is being launched in April to support those who may have lost all confidence in getting out and about after a life-changing event or illness.

Andrew Gardner, Chief Executive of Age UK Essex said “Just as the title suggests, it is all about keeping active, keeping independent and keeping in touch with the outside world”.

It is through the feedback from Befriending staff, users and volunteers that service delivery manager Diane Nicola identified the need.

Diane explains: “We have many requests from clients, volunteers and outside agencies to develop this kind of low-level support. Each client will be allocated a trained volunteer, who will provide company for activities such as shopping, walking or using local or community transport, activities designed to help restore confidence and maximise long-term independence”.

“A plan with an end goal will be agreed in advance with each client over a specific time period which we expect to be no more than 12 weeks. We are therefore looking for dedicated Active Lives volunteers for this challenging yet ultimately rewarding role.”

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For more information or to arrange a media interview contact:

Andrew Gardner, Chief Executive or Peter Bland, Deputy Chief Executive, Age UK Essex, 112 Springfield Road, Chelmsford, CM2 6LF

Tel: 01245 346106

Email: or

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Note to editors:

About Age UK

Age UK – the leading older person’s charity – provides support, services, information and products to people over the age of 50. It has more than 160 partners across the country.

Age UK Essexis a charity operating across Essex ‘Improving the lives of older people’ since 1949. Today it provides: information and advice, support in the home and in the community to enable people to live independently and avoid social isolation. It enables older people’svoices to be heard andsupports more than 200 older peoples clubs and groups across the county.Further details on Age UK Essex and its products and services are available from

Key facts

  • Each year, about 650,000 people turn 65
  • There are 10.3m people aged 65 or over in the UK
  • There are more people in the UK aged 60 and above than there are under 18
  • The number of people aged 65+ is expected to rise by 65% to over 16.4m by 2033
  • Nearly one in five people currently in the UK will live to see their 100th birthday
  • About 3.7 million older people live alone. 70% of these are women over 65
  • One in three people over 65 will die with a form of dementia
  • There are 300,000 people above the age of 65 in Essex
  • Age UK Essex engages with 25,000 older people each year