Help keep older people like Hilda connected this winter!
Southwark resident Hilda, 86, launches Link Age Southwark’s ‘double your donation’ Big Give Christmas Challenge from 28 November
“Link Age Southwark is a great service for older people. Since I joined their singing group, I find being together with other people gives me a lot of satisfaction.”
As the nights draw in and temperatures drop, many of us start looking forward to the festive season. But for many older people, it can be a time of increased isolation and worry, especially as the cost-of-living crisis continues to hit hard. That’s why Southwark resident Hilda, 86, is launching Link Age Southwark’s campaign to raise £16,000 in just one week. The charity is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023 between 28 November and 5 December, to raise vital funds to support its work and the provision of vital transport services for older people, and people living with dementia and their carers.
Hilda wants your help in raising those funds. She belongs to a singing group set up by Link Age Southwark in East Dulwich, which one of the charity’s volunteer drivers takes her safely to and from. She also enjoys the company of a Link Age Southwark volunteer befriender. Hilda says “At my age, I find I can feel lonely, confined at home and unable to go out. But the people at Link Age Southwark are so kind. I am so glad they are there, and with more funds they could help more, older people like me.”
Link Age Southwark’s target for this year’s Big Give Christmas Challenge is £16,000. The charity has £8000 in a ‘pledge pot’ which has been raised from Patrons of the Charity and The Reed Foundation. The Charity needs people to donate another £8000 during the week in order to meet its target. Each £1 donated is matched by money from the pledge pot so your donation is doubled.
Here’s how you can help Link Age Southwark receive a total of £16,000 towards keeping local older people and their carers connected – across the festive season and all year round:
● Visit Link Age Southwark’s Big Give Christmas Challenge campaign web page via www.linkagesouthwark.org to make a donation from midday on Tuesday 28 November (#GivingTuesday). The campaign will close at midday on Tuesday 5 December.
● If you are unable to donate at this time, you can still support Link Age Southwark’s Big Give Christmas Challenge by telling your friends, family and colleagues or sharing details on social media. The charity will be posting about the campaign on Twitter (@LASwark), Instagram (@linkagesouthwark) and Facebook: www.facebook.com/linkagesouthwark/
In the past year, Link Age Southwark has supported 867 older people. It relies on donations to run the services it provides free of charge – these include a befriending scheme; transport to and from exercise, activity and social groups and events; volunteer telephone, hospital and digital buddies; a regular newsletter providing topical information for older people, as well as one-to-one support with form filling in and gaining support from other organisations.
Sophie Wellings, Chief Executive of Link Age Southwark echoes Hilda’s. She says: “The demand for our services increases year on year and the winter months can be especially hard for older people, particularly given the cost of living crisis. Supporting those in most need to leave their homes and spend time in a warm safe space with their peers is a key part of what we offer”.