The Big Give Christmas Challenge Double your donation to Link Age Southwark in the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge 2021
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ink Age Southwark is a vibrant local charity providing a range of services to older people and people living with dementia. This Christmas, the charity is taking part in the Big Give’s Christmas Challenge 2021 to raise £26,000 in just 1 week! The focus of their campaign is ‘reconnecting older people to their communities’ and funds raised will go towards the charity’s transport services. Prior to the pandemic, Link Age Southwark ran 24 social, exercise and activity groups and over 250 service users benefited from them per year. One service user said: “Before I went to the groups I wasn’t going out. I’ve got a good family, but I was isolated from other people in my age group. I love the group - I’ve met some very nice people and I love being with them.” The charity’s service users were supported to attend the groups through the provision of transport, including volunteer drivers, escorted taxis for those living with dementia, as well as an accessible minibus. Link Age Southwark provided 4000 transport journeys in the year before the pandemic, and 100% of their service user survey respondents from that period said they were happy or very happy with the charity’s transport provision.
The team at Link Age Southwark are now working hard to encourage older people and those living with dementia to re-engage with their physical groups. Sophie Wellings, Chief Executive of Link Age Southwark said: “We are aware that some of our service users have experienced a deterioration in their mobility, as well as their mental wellbeing. Our groups provide older people and those living with dementia an important connection to their local community.” Donations made to Link Age Southwark during the Big Give Christmas Challenge will be generously matched, meaning your donation will have twice the impact. During the campaign week, the charity is hoping to raise £13,000 in online donations, in order to access the £13,000 in their matching pot. Can you help them reach their total target of £26,000 and support their vital transport services?
How You Can Get Involved Visit Link Age Southwark’s campaign page: https://donate.thebiggive.org.uk/campaign/ a056900001v54BnAAI to make a donation from midday on Tuesday 30th November (#GivingTuesday). The campaign will close at midday on Tuesday 7th December. If you are unable to donate at this time but still want to support Link Age Southwark’s Christmas Challenge, you can do so by telling your friends, family and colleagues or sharing the campaign on social media. 32 | SE23 - December 2021
