Age Cymru impact report

Age is for all of us

...because age is part of life

Advise Campaign S upport

We’re passionate about older people taking their rightful place in society.

We work to combat the age discrimination that remains rife in our communities.

Contents 01 Message from Chair Message from Chief Executive 02 A world in which older people flourish 04 Ageing better together 06 My Home Life Cymru Gwanwyn 07 Informing and influencing 08 Working in partnership 09 Securing our future 10 Charitable income/expenditure 11 We couldn’t do it without you 12 Get involved

hello

I am delighted to introduce Age Cymru’s impact report for the last financial year (to 31st March 2012).

This brochure demonstrates that, despite the current harsh economic climate, Age Cymru continues to deliver for older people across Wales. As we look back at what I consider to be an incredible year, we also give you a snapshot of our future work.

I would also add my personal thanks to all those involved with Age Cymru for their continued hard work and effort.

Dr Bernadette Fuge MB BCH, LLM, MPH Chair

Age is a part of life

It is a great pleasure to reflect on the last year and to look forward to the future.

Our campaigning work makes a real difference to the lives of older people in Wales and we back it up with our own independent research and policy work to ensure that what we say is based on what older people really want.

We are proud to work with our family of independent local Age Cymru partners who provide a wide range of valuable services, based on local need, directly in their communities.

And we’ve worked hard this year to establish a solid foundation from which to develop our flagship Information and Advice service – a critically important service for older people, their carers and professionals.

Our dedicated supporters, both individual and corporate make a huge difference to Age Cymru and on behalf of our charity; I would personally like to thank them for their contribution in whatever form it takes. Age Cymru remains committed to a vision of a world in which older people flourish. I invite and encourage you to work with us and make that vision a reality.

Robert Taylor OBE Chief Executive

Robert Taylor OBE and Dr Bernadette Fuge

Ad v i s e

02 Age Cymru Impact Report 2011

A world in which older people flourish

Age is everything that makes you, you Age Cymru’s vision is of a world in which older people flourish. This vision inspired the founders of Age Cymru to create an organisation, which already has more than 60 years experience, drawn from Age Concern Cymru and Help the Aged in Wales.

We recognise there’s a long way to go until it becomes a reality but we’ll play our part and ask you to do the same.

Age Cymru’s mission is to improve life for older people, making a real practical difference to people today, whilst working for a better later life in the future.

We campaign; we fundraise; we research; we make the powers that be listen and we challenge when they fail, letting them know how it should be done.

This is what we do and this is how we do it... we are Age Cymru.

Together taking part We’re passionate about older people taking their rightful place in society. We work to combat the age discrimination that remains rife in our communities.

There’s nothing quite as powerful as hearing older people tell it like it really is. Through our engagement work we enable older people to have their voices heard, shaping and influencing policy or the development and delivery of key services.

It’s a sad fact that Wales has a higher incidence of elder abuse than any other part of the UK. Our Rule Out Abuse campaign calls on the Welsh Government to introduce legislation to protect adults from abuse.

We presented a petition of 6000 signatures to the Deputy Minister for Social Services supporting our case.

Throughout 2011, Age Cymru delivered Growing Older in Wales training across Wales. Hundreds of delegates received our training, supporting them to challenge ageism.

We continue to host and support key networks of older people – including Cymru Older People’s Alliance; National Old Age Pensioners Association; National Pensioners Convention; Pensioners Forum Wales; and Welsh Senate of Older People. The Older Minority Ethnic and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Networks ensure a diverse range of views are given a voice.

Handover of the Rule Out Abuse petition on the 14th June 2012. Steps of the Senedd, Cardiff.

Future work We will continue to challenge age discrimination and ageism in all its forms.

We will seek to influence legislation and practice for safeguarding older people.

We will develop the support and advice we provide to advocates.

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Ageing better together

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Age is being comfortable in your own skin From a half mile stroll to a five mile walk our Nordic Walking programme suits all levels of fitness and ability. It’s one of Europe’s fastest growing physical activities. During 2011, Age Cymru delivered over 4,000 Nordic Walking experiences through our trained volunteer walk leaders.

Age Cymru coordinated the Welsh Government’s Keep Well This Winter programme. From handy room thermometers to the ‘Winter wrapped up’ booklet, we distributed more than 70,000 resources to 150 partners and provided comprehensive information online.

Isolation and loneliness persist in communities across Wales; Age Cymru distributed 38 grants to older people’s groups, supporting events to combat this very real issue.

Giving older people the confidence to embrace digital technology was a key theme for Age Cymru in 2011.

We brought digital technology to people through initiatives such as ‘itea and biscuits’, whilst at the

2,000

LIFT sessions delivered

Royal Welsh Agricultural Show and National Eisteddfod we made computers available for visitors to go online. We demonstrated the benefits of email, Skype and how easy it is to access the wealth of information available on our website. At our successful Ageing Well Conference we showcased the use of digital technology in local communities including its role in combating social isolation.

Within a community setting, Age Cymru’s Low Impact Functional Training (or LIFT) programme, goes from strength to strength. Across Wales more than 2,000 sessions were held during the year.

Future work We will ensure older people can make informed choices in maintaining their health and independence.

We’ll grow our volunteer network and create opportunities to participate.

Through a series of initiatives we’ll seek to improve older people’s knowledge with regard to healthy ageing.

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My Home Life Cymru Promoting the quality of life in care homes is what My Home Life Cymru is all about.

We’re in regular contact with more than 25% of care homes in Wales and this year every home in Wales (740+) received a full set of good practice guides that cover the key My Home Life themes.

The guides provide discussion, training and motivation to inspire each home to focus on quality of life. This year more than 1,500 professional care home staff, relatives and residents attended events to hear about My Home Life Cymru and to share good practice.

Future work We’re grateful to the Welsh Government for funding My Home Life Cymru and we’re keen to see it expand. We believe that if every home aimed to follow the My Home Life Cymru principles, residential and nursing care in Wales would thrive.

In May 2011 Gwanwyn, Age Cymru’s arts festival for older people, celebrated its fifth birthday.

We held four showcase events at major venues across Wales including Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff and Galeri in Caernarfon. Nearly 300 events were organised by community groups and organisations that received Gwanwyn grants.

Gwanwyn

Three older performers took part in the Cardiff Comedy Festival following a workshop where they and other aspiring comedians received tips and training from professionals to perfect their routines.

We worked in partnership with the dementia assessment unit at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital on an ambitious project to bring the nursing and artistic worlds together. This work will enable professionals to observe patients engaging with the art. It has improved the hospital ward environment, whilst involving the local artistic community to create the art.

Future work

Gwanwyn is all about celebrating creativity in later life. It’s unique in Wales and isn’t constrained to specific art forms. Age Cymru is committed to ensuring older people can participate and access cultural activities.

296

events with 9,500 people participating

Age is being proud of your achievements

Informing and influencing For generations we’ve been trusted on all matters relating to age. We’re here to provide practical support and advice for all older people, their friends, family and professionals.

Age Cymru is at the heart of Welsh politics and is respected for providing well-informed opinion.

In the last year we:

Age Cymru offers accurate, relevant, impartial and expert information and advice in partnership with Age UK through a free and confidential telephone service.

• produced key briefings on a range of topics from Participation in Sport to Community Safety

Every year we produce a comprehensive range of factsheets and guides.

• provided 36 formal consultation responses

• developed a Local Government manifesto calling on candidates to sign up as ambassadors for older people • re-established the Cross Party group on Older People and Ageing • delivered fringe meetings at the Wales Spring Party conferences • were appointed as expert advisers to an Inquiry into Residential Care.

Future work We will lead and frame debate on older people’s issues and act as a source of expertise to politicians, policy makers and key stakeholders.

Our information and advice service will continue to enable older people to maintain their independence and maximise their wellbeing.

Q

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08

Working in

partnership www.agecymru.org.uk/local

Age Cymru is proud to have seven local Age Cymru partners that provide a wealth of services directly to older people in their community. These services vary from area to area and include advocacy, benefits advice and information, toenail cutting, lunch clubs, befriending, internet classes, hospital discharge services, handyperson, tax advice and shopping.

Each partner provides ‘flagship’ services to meet the highest standard so you can be assured of consistency and quality wherever the Age Cymru name and logo is seen.

Some smaller Age Concerns provide a lifeline to their neighbourhood by hosting activities such as lunch clubs and day trips we’re now working to enable them to become official ‘Friends of Age Cymru’.

Age Cymru provides support for Age Alliance Wales which has 20 charity members and the Welsh Senate of Older People, bringing together 57 organisations of older people to provide a stronger voice for older people.

Work with our national partners in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland continues with some notable successes over the last year. Of particular note were the concessions achieved when the national charities came together to campaign against the speed of change to state pension ages.

Our charity shops and trading outlets:

Many Age Concerns have adopted the Age Cymru brand.

Age Cymru Bangor

These are our local Age Cymru Partners:

Age Cymru Colwyn Bay

Age Cymru Cardiff*

Age Cymru Ceredigion

Age Cymru Ebbw Vale

Age Cymru Gwent*

Age Cymru Mold

Age Cymru Gwynedd a Môn*

Age Cymru Monmouth

We will lead by example – improving the range of services that we offer.

Age Cymru Afan Nedd

Age Cymru Pontypridd*

Age Cymru Powys

Age Cymru Porthcawl

We will continue to support joint working amongst organisations dedicated to older people in Wales.

Age Cymru Sir Gâr

Age Cymru Rhyl

Age Cymru Swansea Bay*

Age Cymru Shotton

Future work

Age Cymru Wrexham Financial services and products are available at the *outlets

Age is knowing it’s OK to ask for help

securing our

future

Generating new income for Age Cymru is vital to ensure our sustainability. In one way or another we’ve been here for generations of people since 1947 and we know that our journey is far from over.

We already have some incredible fundraisers who scale mountains, cycle from Lands End to John O’Groats and who knit the most amazing woolly hats for us. But we need to do more and we need your help to achieve our vision of creating a world in which older people flourish.

We understand that any corporate relationship must be mutually beneficial. We have some fantastic private sector supporters, all of whom we thank wholeheartedly.

It’s not just about fundraising – we know that

money’s tight for many. That’s why we’re investing in social enterprise with new high street offices promoting a suite of products and services especially designed for older people. We also deliver invaluable face to face advice.

And it doesn’t stop there... 2012 sees us taking over a chain of retail outlets across Wales to give Age Cymru even more of a high street presence. It will be the start of a new era for Age Cymru and offer so much more than just a shop.

Future work We’ll continue to value our great supporters and look to recruit more.

With our new high street presence there’ll be so much more in store.

Alongside the traditional shop there are great insurance and utility deals, as well as face to face information and advice.

since 1947

10 Charitable income

Charitable expenditure

Legacies

Governance

Grants

Equality and human rights

Donations

Healthy ageing

Age UK

Inclusion and contribution

Events Investment income

Charitable income

Charitable expenditure

Social enterprise

Neglect and poverty Social enterprise

Retail

Partners and forums

Other

Income resources Grants

The pie charts above are representative charts of the figures extracted from the full Trustees annual report and consolidated financial statements which were approved by the Trustees and signed on their behalf on 20 August 2012. The full financial statements, on which the auditors Broomfield & Alexander gave

an unqualified audit report on 23 August 2012.

The auditors have confirmed to the Trustees that, in their opinion, the summarised financial statements are consistent with the full financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2012.

These summarised financial statements may not contain sufficient information to gain a

complete understanding of the financial affairs of the charity. The full Trustees report, financial statements and auditors report may be obtained from: Age Cymru, Tyˆ John Pathy, 13/14 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff, CF24 5PJ.

Age is having something worthwhile to give back

Rhod Gilbert

Rhys Ifans

Cerys Matthews

you

We couldn’t do it without

Derek Brockway Shân Cothi Warren Gatland Rhod Gilbert Rhys Ifans Cerys Matthews Roy Noble Rhydian Roberts Mark Taylor

Age UK Arriva Trains Wales Arts Council for Wales Big Lottery Fund British Gas Cardiff Fundraising Committee Community Foundation Wales Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water Go Wales Grunvig Hugh James Solicitors Rayne Foundation RLE Law Wales Council for Voluntary Action Wales and West Utilities Welsh Government Western Power Distribution Wilkinsons Stores Ltd

Estates of the late LC Baldwyn H Davies T Davies B Evans WJH Evans D Hobbs JC Howells Brown J Jones GH Ladlow CE Smith

12

Get involved

Now you’ve seen the fantastic work we do and you know that for generations Age Cymru has been here for you. Can you give just a little bit back?

Fundraise

There are so many different and unique ways that you can raise money for us... from cake bakes to bungee jumps our dedicated fundraising team will help you make the most of your event and ensure you get the fulfilment and recognition you deserve.

Volunteer

Volunteer for one of our charitable services including one of our shops, in our offices or at one of our fundraising events.

Donate

Every donation, small or large, is truly valued as it really does make a difference to us continuing our work.

Our charity shops across Wales need donations of clothes, books, ornaments, jewellery and household furniture. We’re proud that the money we raise through our shops is spent on projects in Wales.

Buy

Many of us want to remain independent which is why we offer fantastic products and services.

Many older people choose to arrange their insurance* through Age Cymru or one of our local Age Cymru partners. We also offer a great range of competitive deals on products including stair lifts, bathing aids and other mobility products. www.agecymru.org.uk/local

Sponsor

Want to raise the profile of your business? Talk to us about a corporate partnership with Age Cymru and we’ll tell you how we can help. www.agecymru.org.uk/getinvolved Telephone 029 2043 1555

Tŷ John Pathy 13/14 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PJ

Leaving a legacy to Age Cymru will ensure we are here for future generations.

t 029 2043 1555 f 029 2047 1418 e enquiries@agecymru.org.uk www.agecymru.org.uk

*Home, travel and motor insurances provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.

Registered charity number 1128436

Remember us in your will