Fundraising ventures to support Age Scotland

Running, knitting or shopping - how will you support Age Scotland?

Although some events have been cancelled because of the pandemic, there are still plenty of opportunities to run, cycle, knit or shop - and support Age Scotland at the same time. Here are some of the upcoming fundraisers, all of which will adhere to Covid guidelines. We hope you’ll find something to try!

Duathlon Edinburgh - 11 April 2021

We have five coveted places to offer on this sold out event! The Duathlon is at Gosford House, East Lothian, and includes a 5k run around the beautiful estate, followed by a 25k cycle along the coast and countryside, followed by another 5k run. www.age.scot/duathalon

Stirling Marathon – 8-9 May 2021

Run through the beautiful city of Stirling, then on to historic Dunblane and continuing onto Doune passing the castle (where Outlander was filmed!) finishing at King’s Park. What a fantastic way to beat your personal best and raise money for Age Scotland!

Edinburgh Marathon Weekend – 29-30 May 2021

Starting at Potterow and finishing at Pinkie playing fields, this is the largest marathon outside London, and a great way to see the city and meet new friends.

Virtual Kiltwalk - 23-25 April 2021

Once again the first kiltwalk of the year will be virtual, so why not get friends and family together, put on your tartan kilt, scarves or ties and walk for older people.

Amazon Smile

Did you know that every time you shop with Amazon you can support Age Scotland? Just go to www.smile.amazon.co.uk download the app, and choose Age Scotland. You will not pay any more for your products and a donation will go to support our work with older people across Scotland. That is something to smile about!

And a huge thank you to… our two Age

Scotland Ambassadors: Nigel Mika from Minnesota, a student at St Andrews University, is running the Stirling Marathon and Lawrence Dunn, a cyclist from Glasgow, is taking part in the Ride the North 2021 event in July.

Please support them and cheer them on!

Nigel

To find out more about any of the community fundraising events contact fundraising@agescotland.org.uk or visit www.age.scot/events to sign up today!

The Big Knit

It’s back! This firm favourite is on again this year and we are calling on everyone to pick up their needles and join in. Whether a knitting ninja, crochet connoisseur or just keen to have a go, with everyone spending more time at home there has never been a better way to get involved and support our work. Knit in front of the TV or fire, host a virtual knit and natter or learn to knit as a new hobby. For every be-hatted bottle of innocent smoothie sold, Age Scotland receives a 25p donation from innocent towards our vital services. So however you choose to get involved, you can be sure your efforts will make a difference to the lives of older people in Scotland. For more information on The Big Knit and sample patterns contact the Age Scotland fundraising team on bigknit@agescotland.org.uk, 0333 323 2400 or visit www.agescot/Bigknit. Please send completed hats to Age Scotland, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR before the deadline of 17 September 2021.

...Leah and Murray from Midlothian did a fundraising walk...

These young people are truly inspiring, and we would like to say a heartfelt thank you from all of us at Age Scotland.

Kindness across the generations

It has been humbling to see the number of young people who are organising their own challenges to raise money for Age Scotland.

Joshua and Oliver from Glenrothes climbed a local hill... ...and Emily, also from Midlothian, walked a kilometre every day during January.

Join us for a virtual tea party

In 2020 we planned our first virtual tea party. We had many enquiries, including families who wanted to host a tea party and quiz night over Zoom and five friends from Aberdeen who were disappointed that their usual get together could not take place. They organised a virtual afternoon tea with fizz to raise money for Age Scotland instead. We also encouraged our staff to get involved by organising our own virtual tea party and quiz afternoon, which was a huge success, with many people sharing their afternoon tea delicacies, all for a great cause. This year we hope our Time to Talk Tea Party will be even bigger.

Scones

Ingredients • 220g self-raising four (or plain four with 2 tsp of baking powder and a pinch of salt) • Pinch of salt • 55g butter • 25g castor sugar • 150ml / 5foz. Milk • 1 free range egg, beaten to glaze (or milk) Method Preheat oven to 2200C/2000C fan/Gas 7 and lightly grease a baking tray. Mix the four and salt and rub in the butter. Stir in the sugar and then the milk to get a soft dough. Turn on to a foured work surface and knead lightly. Pat out to around 2cm thick, use a 5cm cutter to stamp out rounds and place on a baking tray. Lightly knead together the rest of the dough and stamp out more scones to use up all your dough. Brush the tops of your scones with beaten egg (or milk). Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until well risen and golden brown. Cool on a wire rack and serve with butter, good jam, and clotted cream. Enjoy!

To sign up for our 2021 Time to Talk Party in April please go to www.age.scot/timefortea

Can you haud yer wheesht?

Fre d MacAulay helped launch the Bi g Wheesh t

The Big Wheesht was one of our most important fundraisers last year. We invited people to sign up for a sponsored silence with a difference – encouraging participants to stay quiet to raise money, while at the same time experiencing what it is like for hundreds of thousands of older people who live in silence for days at a time. Loneliness and isolation among older people reached unprecedented levels during the past 12 months and the Big Wheesht highlighted this, as well as generating funds for our friendship line, which is there to support and comfort those who are alone. We were delighted to get support from Scottish celebrities, including broadcaster / comic Fred MacAulay, entertainer Allan Stewart and broadcaster Arlene Stuart. Unable to ‘ask’ for donations, Jane posted silent messages on LinkedIn to encourage friends and Among those who signed up was the Edinburgh- business contacts to support her, while Lawrence based group Gregarious Chinwags, who nominated completed a couple of silent challenges – getting a their chair, Jean Duncan, to stay silent for four hours. cream pie in his face and lip syncing to Taylor Swift. Apparently, this was something of a challenge for Jean Both smashed their sponsorship target. and the committee was amazed that she succeeded! The Big Wheesht returns this September so if you Jean was sponsored by family, friends and think you can "haud yer wheesht" get in touch committee members, to raise money for Age today! We are also looking for ten business leaders Scotland. Afterwards she said: “I was delighted to to join our special corporate Big Wheesht so if take part in this fundraiser as I know what it is like to you've got what it takes, contact our team on the feel alone with no-one to talk to.” details below. A number of corporate businesses took part too. Jane Morrison-Ross, the former chief executive of ScotlandIS, and Lawrence Broadie, owner of Electrify Marketing and Communications, challenged themselves to ‘haud their wheesht’ until they "I was reached £1,000 in sponsorship. delighted to take part in this fundraiser as I know what it is like to feel alone with no-one to talk to"

S t a yi n g sil ent was a challenge for Jean

Contact fundraising@agescotland.org.uk or visit www.age.scot/bigwheesht

Older People’s Champions: Amplifying Older Voices

Councillor Elaine Thornton-Nicol,

Older People's Champion for Scottish Borders Council

Age Scotland is working with the Scottish Older People’s Assembly (SOPA) on a campaign to encourage every local authority to appoint an Older People’s Champion. What is an Older People’s Champion? An Older People’s Champion is a councillor with a specific responsibility to ensure older people’s voices are heard in their area. Working with older people, council colleagues and other partners, Older People’s Champions identify issues affecting people locally. Their role also involves leading council campaigns on issues impacting older people and communicating council policy. The role is apolitical, so the appointee may be in the administration or opposition parties. The champion does not have to be an older person, but they must be able to represent the views of others. Importantly, there is no budget attached to the role. There are currently Older People’s Champions in nine council areas: Dumfries & Galloway; Dundee City; East Ayrshire; North Ayrshire; Renfrewshire; Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire and South Ayrshire Why do we want Older People’s Champions? Local authorities are responsible for providing many services which older people rely on, such as bus routes, social care, and public toilets. Councils also make a wide range of decisions, including planning and council tax, which impact older people. With many local authority budgets under pressure, older people need someone specifically tasked with standing up for their interests. Older People’s Champions will also play a vital role in amplifying older people’s voices as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The seven Older People’s Champions in post have joined SOPA, through which they can network and share best practice. 32 champions will be able to feed the views of local older people into the development of national policy through engagement with the Minister for Older People and the Scottish Government. What is Age Scotland doing about this? SOPA and Age Scotland want to build up a network of 32 champions ahead of next year’s local government elections. We will engage with councils who do not currently have a champion and seek support for the role from the Minister for Older People. Age Scotland is also developing a package of support for champions – including regular updates about our work and information about issues in their area. What can I do to help? If you live in one of the 25 local authorities without a champion, you could contact your local councillors to ask them to endorse the role. Feel free to share the role description outlined in this article.

Age Scotland and SOPA are calling on every local authority to appoint an older people’s champion. To find out more, contact Catriona Melville: catriona.melville@agescotland.org.uk / 0333 323 2400.

News Launching our new free Will writing service

Write or update your Will for free

We are delighted to continue working with Solicitors for Older People in Scotland (SOPS), a group of Scottish law firms dedicated to providing legal services to older people in a caring and sensitive way.

From March this year, the SOPS network is offering a free Will service to all Advantage readers over 50 and living in Scotland. If you’re over 50, we encourage you to make sure your financial affairs are in order and the key to this is having an up-to-date Will: it is so important, not just for you but for those you leave behind. It’s as simple as one, two, three SOPS will remove the stress of making a new Will or amending your existing Will in three easy steps – all you need to do is: 1. Contact Age Scotland on 0333 323 2400 2. SOPS will then be in touch to arrange the best date and time to chat to you 3. Consider leaving Age Scotland a gift in your Will. Business as usual Despite the ongoing Covid19 restrictions, SOPS are continuing to speak with clients online every day. So, whenever the time feels right for you: Call us on 0333 323 2400 email fundraising@agescotland.org.uk The friendly team at Age Scotland will be happy to organise an appointment for you.

Everyday. Solitude. Silence. A lonely end.

Every £5 you can give enables us to provide a friendship call to support a lonely older person in need.

PLEASE DONATE TODAY.

By Freepost

RSBS-KEHC-GBBC, Age Scotland, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR

By Phone

03330 15 14 60

Online

age.scot/makethecall

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