Age Concern
Encyclopedia
Age Concern was the banner title used by a number of charitable organisations (NGOs) 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
.
In addition to providing practical support to individuals, Age Concern campaigned on issues such as age discrimination and pensions, and works to 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 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. Although each was a separate 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 is a strong international network considered to be one of the leading authorities on aging related issues.
Since the merger of Age Concern England and Help the Aged
, Age UK has taken over the mantle of the national face of Age in the UK, and several local organisations have also adopted the new name, many local organisations continue to operate as Age Concerns.
and can be traced back to a realisation in that country of the effects on aged people of the 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 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 1971, under the direction of David Hobman
, the NOPWC changed its public name to Age Concern, and separated itself entirely from 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
, 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.
On 30 May 2006, Age Concern launched Heyday - marking the launch by carrying out the UK's biggest 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 separate not-for-profit membership organisation for all people who are thinking about, planning for or in retirement. Heyday offered members access to expert advice on finances, work, retirement
and health, as well as providing them with a voice and putting them in touch with one another, for a small annual subscription.
With ambitious membership targets, a year after launch, Heyday had 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, introducing new recruitment channels such as through corporate schemes, and streamlined the supporting infrastructure to more closely meet the lower level of activity.
Shortly after a Charity Commission
report made a number of recommendations, Heyday announced that the membership scheme would close on 31 March 2009, noting that Heyday would maintain a presence on the Age Concern website following the merger with Help the Aged.
The charity itself commissioned Sir Christopher Kelly
to investigate the project. His report, published in June, 2009, concluded that Age Concern had lost over £22 million on the venture.
announced plans for the two charities to merge.
Following consultation, this was confirmed in September, when Dianne Jeffrey was confirmed as the new chair of trustees.
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.
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, Ian McKellen
and Eleanor Bron
in the charity's first television campaign.
Heyday:
International Age Concern organisations:
Countries of the United Kingdom
Countries of the United Kingdom is a term used to describe England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These four countries together form the sovereign state of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is also described as a country. The alternative terms, constituent...
.
In addition to providing practical support to individuals, Age Concern campaigned on issues such as age discrimination and pensions, and works to 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 covered England, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. 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. Although each was a separate 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
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, and elsewhere under similar banners. There is a strong international network considered to be one of the leading authorities on aging related issues.
Since the merger of Age Concern England and Help the Aged
Help the Aged
Help the Aged was a United Kingdom based, international charity, founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole, to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. It merged with Age Concern in 2009 to form Age UK.-Organisation and campaigns:...
, Age UK has taken over the mantle of the national face of Age in the UK, and several local organisations have also adopted the new name, many local organisations continue to operate as Age Concerns.
History
Age Concern's origins are BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and can be traced back to a realisation in that country of the effects on aged people of the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
; the dislocation and breakdown of family life arising out of conscription
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
led to a recognition that existing poor law
Poor Law
The English Poor Laws were a system of poor relief which existed in England and Wales that developed out of late-medieval and Tudor-era laws before being codified in 1587–98...
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
Eleanor Rathbone
Eleanor Florence Rathbone was an independent British Member of Parliament and long-term campaigner for women's rights. She was a member of the noted Rathbone family of Liverpool.-Life:...
, was formed as a forum for discussion between government and voluntary organisations. OPWC was a sub-committee of Liverpool Personal Service Society
Liverpool Personal Service Society
Liverpool Personal Service Society is a UK charity covering North West England, Staffordshire, North Wales and Scotland. PSS provides a personal service and practical help tailored to meet the individual needs of people in their community...
(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
Welfare state
A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public responsibility for those...
, to provide services to local committees, and training to wardens of old people's homes.
In 1971, under the direction of David Hobman
David Hobman
David Hobman, CBE was a British social activist, broadcaster and the first Director of Age Concern England.-External links:* Daily Telegraph obituary...
, the NOPWC changed its public name to Age Concern, and separated itself entirely from 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
David Hobman
David Hobman, CBE was a British social activist, broadcaster and the first Director of Age Concern England.-External links:* Daily Telegraph obituary...
, Baroness Greengross, and Gordon Lishman
Gordon Lishman
Arthur Gordon Lishman CBE, known as Gordon Lishman is a British social activist, writer and former Director General of Age Concern England.-Career:...
- the current Director General.
In 1986 Age Concern established an Institute of Gerontology
Gerontology
Gerontology is the study of the social, psychological and biological aspects of aging...
at King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
into which it folded its own Age Concern Research Unit.
Heyday
Statistical survey
Survey methodology is the field that studies surveys, that is, the sample of individuals from a population with a view towards making statistical inferences about the population using the sample. Polls about public opinion, such as political beliefs, are reported in the news media in democracies....
, asking 10 million people born in the 1940s and 1950s for views on issues such as ageism
Ageism
Ageism, also called age discrimination is stereotyping of and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age. It is a set of beliefs, attitudes, norms, and values used to justify age based prejudice, discrimination, and subordination...
, pension
Pension
In general, a pension is an arrangement to provide people with an income when they are no longer earning a regular income from employment. Pensions should not be confused with severance pay; the former is paid in regular installments, while the latter is paid in one lump sum.The terms retirement...
s and health.
Heyday was launched as a separate not-for-profit membership organisation for all people who are thinking about, planning for or in retirement. Heyday offered members access to expert advice on finances, work, retirement
Retirement
Retirement is the point where a person stops employment completely. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours.Many people choose to retire when they are eligible for private or public pension benefits, although some are forced to retire when physical conditions don't allow the person to...
and health, as well as providing them with a voice and putting them in touch with one another, for a small annual subscription.
With ambitious membership targets, a year after launch, Heyday had 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, introducing new recruitment channels such as through corporate schemes, and streamlined the supporting infrastructure to more closely meet the lower level of activity.
Shortly after a Charity Commission
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
report made a number of recommendations, Heyday announced that the membership scheme would close on 31 March 2009, noting that Heyday would maintain a presence on the Age Concern website following the merger with Help the Aged.
The charity itself commissioned Sir Christopher Kelly
Christopher Kelly
Sir Christopher William Kelly, KCB is a former senior British Civil Servant who is currently the Chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life and Chairman of the NSPCC.-Early life:...
to investigate the project. His report, published in June, 2009, concluded that Age Concern had lost over £22 million on the venture.
Merger
In May 2008, Age Concern England and Help the AgedHelp the Aged
Help the Aged was a United Kingdom based, international charity, founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole, to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect. It merged with Age Concern in 2009 to form Age UK.-Organisation and campaigns:...
announced plans for the two charities to merge.
Following consultation, this was confirmed in September, when Dianne Jeffrey was confirmed as the new chair of trustees.
Tom Wright CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
, currently chief executive of VisitBritain
VisitBritain
VisitBritain is the name used by the British Tourist Authority, the tourist board of Great Britain incorporated under the Development of Tourism Act 1969....
, and Trustee of the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
was appointed Chief Executive of the new charity in November 2008.
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, Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian Murray McKellen, CH, CBE is an English actor. He has received a Tony Award, two Academy Award nominations, and five Emmy Award nominations. His work has spanned genres from Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction...
and Eleanor Bron
Eleanor Bron
Eleanor Bron is an English stage, film and television actress and author.-Early life and family:Bron was born in 1938 in Stanmore, Middlesex, to a Jewish family of Eastern European origin...
in the charity's first television campaign.
External links
Age Concern in the United Kingdom:- Age Concern in England (#261794 at the Charity CommissionCharity CommissionThe Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
), Scotland (#SC010100 at Office of the Scottish Charity RegulatorOffice of the Scottish Charity RegulatorThe Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator is a non-ministerial department of the Scottish Government, with responsibility for the regulation of charities in Scotland...
), and Cymru (Wales) (#505071 at the Charity CommissionCharity CommissionThe Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
) - Age Concern Northern Ireland
- The Age Concern Institute of Gerontology (ACIOG)
- Age Concern Travel Insurance Articles
- Intelligent Giving profile of Age Concern England
Heyday:
- Heyday
- BBC News item #1
- BBC News item #2
- GMTV news item
- Lishman defends Heyday decisions, Third Sector, April 2007
International Age Concern organisations: