As the credit crunch starts to bite, a North Herefordshire charity reports a huge wave of calls for help from older people living in the area.
An analysis of client numbers conducted recently by Age Concern Leominster and District shows an increase of 60 per cent among those seeking help with claiming benefits. In Kington alone, where the charity runs its Rural Information Service, there is a massive 140 per cent increase in the total number of enquiries.
Added to this, Age Concern is finding that the queries are becoming more complex. Anna Egginton, who heads the team at Leominster, said: “More and more clients come with two or three problems they need resolved, whereas in the past it used to be one problem at a time.”
The charity is in the middle of a fundraising effort with the main aim of bringing in more money to keep the Information and Advice Service running.
A recent mail shot to local companies has been followed up with telephone calls from a willing band of volunteers, but unfortunately this has not raised enough money to make a significant difference. A renewed plan will attempt to find a benefactor to sponsor the service.
Helping more than 3,000 people a year with anything from advice on dealing with utility suppliers, to claiming their correct benefit entitlement, from where to get help in the house, to who will look after the cat if you go into hospital – these and a myriad other worries for older people are what Anna and her team deal with on a daily basis.
Contact Anna on 01568 611054 if you can help.
