Editing Age Concern

{{Short description|Partnership of UK charities relating to older people}}
{{Use British English | date= January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Age Concern
| logo = Ac logo pms.png
| logo_size = 200px
| type = [[Charitable organization|Charity]]
| foundation =
| location = UK
| key_people =
| industry = charitable organizations
| products =
| revenue =
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| footnotes = {{URL|ageisjustanumber.org.uk}} }}
'''Age Concern''' is the banner title used by several [[Charitable organization|charitable organisations]] specifically concerned with the needs and interests of all older people (defined as those over the age of 50) based chiefly in the four [[countries of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=World |first=Disabled |title=Disable holiday makers |date=30 December 2008 |url=https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/insurance/Disability-travel-insurance.php}}</ref>

In addition to providing practical support to individuals, Age Concern campaigns on issues such as age discrimination and [[pension]]s, influence public opinion and government policy about older people.

Numerous Age Concern organisations have been established throughout the UK, working at national and local levels. At the national level, four Age Concern organisations<ref name="national age concerns">{{cite web
  | author = Staff
  | title = National Age Concerns
  | url = http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/National_Age_Concerns.asp
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071028093155/http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/National_Age_Concerns.asp
  | archive-date  = 28 October 2007
  | access-date = 14 November 2019}}</ref> covered England, [[Scotland]], [[Wales]], and [[Northern Ireland]]. Local Age Concerns vary from small village groups to countywide organisations. In England, over 370 of the individual charities were members of a national federation.<ref name="age concern federation">{{cite web
  | author = Staff
  | title = Age Concern Federation
  | url = http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/age_concern_federation.asp
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071101095916/http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/age_concern_federation.asp
  | archive-date  = 1 November 2007
  | access-date = 14 November 2019}}</ref> Although each was a separately registered charity working under the Age Concern banner, the federation allowed members to collaborate at local, regional, and national levels, to share resources, expertise, and influence.

Similar organisations also exist in [[New Zealand]], [[Spain]], [[Ukraine]], and elsewhere under similar banners.

There was a merger of Age Concern England and [[Help the Aged]], and somewhat later [[Age UK]] took over the mantle of the national face of concern for the aged in the UK, and several local organisations have also adopted the new name, but many local organisations continued to operate as local Age Concerns. One of these was Age Concern Manchester,<ref name="age concern manchester">{{cite web
  | author = Staff
  | title = Age Concern Manchester
  | url = http://www.silverservice.org.uk/
  | access-date = 14 November 2019
  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160118215441/http://www.silverservice.org.uk/
  | archive-date = 18 January 2016
  | url-status = dead
  }}</ref><ref>''Silver Service'' is the newsletter of Age Concern Manchester.</ref> and other examples are Age Concern Luton<ref name="age concern luton">{{cite web
  | author = Staff
  | title = Age Concern Luton
  | url = http://www.ageconcernluton.org.uk/
  | access-date = 14 November 2019}}</ref> and Age Concern Central Lancashire.<ref name="age is not a number">{{cite web
  | author = Staff
  | title = Age Concern Central Lancashire
  | url = https://www.ageisjustanumber.org.uk/
  | access-date = 14 November 2019}}</ref>

==History==
{{unreferenced section|date= January 2025}}
Age Concern's origins are in the United Kingdom and can be traced back to a realisation in that country of the effects on aged people of the [[World War II|Second World War]]; the dislocation and breakdown of family life arising out of [[conscription]] led to a recognition that existing [[poor law]]s failed to provide effective support for old people separated from family support networks.

In 1940, the Old People's Welfare Committee (OPWC), chaired by [[Eleanor Rathbone]], was formed as a forum for discussion between government and voluntary organisations. OPWC was a sub-committee of the [[Liverpool Personal Service Society]] (PSS). In 1944, the committee changed its name to the National Old People's Welfare Committee (NOPWC) and took on responsibility for coordinating the activities of numerous local OPWCs.

From the 1950s onwards, NOPWC accessed government and local funds associated with the post-war development of the [[welfare state]], to provide services to local committees, and training to wardens of old people's homes.

In 1968 it became clear to Denise Newman. the then chairman of the NOPW council, an organisation funded within the government and run by unaccountable grandees was not an effective voice for the needs of the elderly. At that time the funding allocated from the government through the Department of Social Services was £40,000 a year.

One problem was that the minister responsible (Dick Crossman) was not in a position politically to guarantee that should the group break with the government that the funds would naturally follow to the new entity. So it was the taking of this funding risk which initially marked out Age Concern as part of a new way of dealing with what could be seen as a government-supported charitable exercise. Secondly, having successfully established itself with its premises and retained its £40,000 grant, Newman then insisted that the newly appointed CEO be salaried, and therefore accountable. This was the first salaried appointment of the senior executive of any charity in the UK.

In 1971, under the new direction of [[David Hobman]], the NOPWC changed its public name to '''Age Concern''', and separated itself from the government and the [[National Council for Social Service]], now [[NCVO]]. It did so while also launching a 'manifesto for old age' and establishing itself nationally as a lobbying body as well as an organisation that engaged in service provision and enhancement, training, and research.

The directors of Age Concern England have included [[David Hobman]], [[Sally Greengross|Baroness Greengross]], and [[Gordon Lishman]] – the current Director General.

In 1986 Age Concern established an Institute of [[Gerontology]] at [[King's College London]] into which it folded its own Age Concern Research Unit.

== Heyday ==

[[Image:Ac heyday logo.png|thumb|right|The ''Heyday'' logo]]
On 30 May 2006, Age Concern launched '''Heyday''' – marking the launch by carrying out the [[UK]]'s biggest [[statistical survey|survey]], asking 10 million people born in the 1940s and 1950s for views on issues such as [[ageism]], [[pension]]s, and health.

'''Heyday''' was launched as a [[not-for-profit]] membership organisation for people planning for or in retirement. Heyday offered members access to expert advice on finances, work, [[retirement]], and health, as well as putting them in touch with one another, for a small annual subscription.

With ambitious membership targets, Heyday proved an expensive and controversial exercise within the Age Concern Federation. Due to lower-than-expected membership take-up, Age Concern restructured the Heyday scheme to meet the low level of activity.

Shortly after a [[Charity Commission]] report made several recommendations,<ref>[http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/Channels/Finance/Article/879460/Heyday-close-damning-report/ Third Sector, retrieved 12 March 2009]</ref> Heyday announced that the scheme would close on 31 March 2009, noting that Heyday would maintain a presence on the Age Concern website.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://heyday.org.uk/ |title=Heyday website retrieved 9 March 2009 |access-date=4 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903141314/http://www.heyday.org.uk/ |archive-date=3 September 2013 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

The charity commissioned Sir [[Christopher Kelly (civil servant)|Christopher Kelly]] to investigate the project. His 2009 report concluded that Age Concern had lost over £22 million on the venture.<ref>[http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/Kelly-Report-release-050609.asp Heyday review, Christopher Kelly, June 2009 ''(Retrieved 23 March 2010)''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206173347/http://www.ageconcern.org.uk/AgeConcern/Kelly-Report-release-050609.asp |date=6 February 2010 }}</ref>

==Merger==
In May 2008, Age Concern England and [[Help the Aged]] announced plans for the two charities to merge.<ref>[http://www.fundraising.co.uk/news/2008/05/20/age-concern-and-help-aged-merger-consultation Fundraising UK article, retrieved 22 Oct 2008]</ref>
Following consultation, this was confirmed in September, when [[Dianne Jeffrey]] was confirmed as the new chairman of trustees.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120724064037/http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Articles/2008/09/05/109325/help-the-aged-and-age-concern-england-merger-moves-forward.html Community Care article, retrieved 22 Oct 2008]</ref>

Tom Wright [[CBE]], currently chief executive of [[VisitBritain]], and Trustee of the [[Imperial War Museum]]
was appointed Chief Executive of the new charity in November 2008.<ref>[http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/Channels/Management/Article/860417/Chief-executive-named-age-charities-merger/ Third Sector, retrieved 12 March 2009]</ref>

The merged charity, now known as [[Age UK]] was formed on 1 April 2009, and launched a major branding exercise in April 2010, featuring [[Brian Cox (actor)|Brian Cox]], [[Ian McKellen]], and [[Eleanor Bron]] in the charity's first television campaign. {{Citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Many of the individual Age Concern charities, however, found the terms of the merger unacceptable and remain independent and have no connection with Age UK. Examples include Age Concern Luton,<ref name="age concern luton"/> Age Concern Eastbourne<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/people/age-concern-eastbourne-covid-and-cost-of-living-crisis-has-been-a-double-whammy-3768781 | title=Age Concern Eastbourne: Covid and cost of living crisis has been a 'double whammy' | date=14 July 2022 }}</ref> and Age Concern Central Lancashire.<ref name="age is not a number" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
Heyday:
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/5027216.stm BBC News item #1]
*[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/5027154.stm BBC News item #2]
*[http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/News/648052/Lishman-defends-saga-Heyday/ Lishman defends Heyday decisions, Third Sector, April 2007]

International Age Concern organisations:
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090207023306/http://ageconcern.bm/ Age Concern Bermuda]
*[http://www.ageconcern.org.nz/ Age Concern New Zealand / He Manaakitanga Kaumātua Aotearoa]
*[http://www.acespana.org/ Age Concern España]
*[http://www.ageisjustanumber.org.uk/ Age Concern Central Lancashire]

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Charities for the elderly based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1940 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1940]]
[[Category:Charities based in London]]