Age Concern Southend. Elderly support. Southend, Castle Point, Rochford

Age Concern Southend

Assisted by a team of volunteers, Age Concern Southend offers comfort, friendship and practical help to residents who feel isolated and lonely or who need support in maintaining the life they wish to lead. Age Concern Southend currently provide services, information and support to older people in the boroughs of Southend, Castle Point and Rochford.

According to data compiled by Age UK, over 1 million older people go more than a month with no contact from friends or family in the UK. Loneliness and isolation are more than just emotional experiences and research has shown that social isolation can be as bad for your health as obesity and smoking.

Current services include:

Befriending (over 140 volunteers visit elderly people in the area on a regular basis as well as assisting (transport) with shopping, hospital trips and other necessary tasks. They also offer telephone befriending which enables us to reach more people.)
Transport (volunteer drivers take service users to medical appointments, shopping, to day centres and to visit loved ones at a charge of 46.9p per mile in order to keep clients independent and able to get out and about in the community.)
Advice and information (staff are always happy to assist where they can and/or signpost to other agencies such as Advocacy for Older People and the Alzheimer’s society.)
Free newsletter and directory of services (this is produced twice a year and includes local information, updates on events, interesting articles and contacts of local services. All tradespeople advertised have been interviewed, DBS verified and have shown copies of public liability insurance.)
Community clubs (their current clubs are on Mondays at the Todman centre in Rayleigh 2-4pm, Tuesday at the Wesley Church in Leigh 2-4pm and once a month at Abbeyfield Frank Phillips House. They have speakers, arrange outings and give the opportunity for people to get together and chat over a cup of tea and a biscuit.)
Social and fundraising events (they hold a range of events throughout the year – a mix of fundraisers and events to raise the profile of Age Concern Southend and the services they deliver.)
Wheelchair hire (wheelchairs are available to hire at £5 a day or £18 per week.)
Replacement hearing aid batteries (batteries are available from the office, saving service users trips to the audiology department at Southend Hospital.)

For more information please feel free to visit (we are located at 134 Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, opening hours Mon-Fri 9.30 – 4.30), call on 01702 345373, email on enquiry@acsos.co.uk or have a look at their website http://www.acsos.co.uk/. You can also find Age Concern Southend on Facebook and Twitter .