Age UK Gateshead comes to the aid of thousands of older residents as demand spikes during coronavirus outbreak

National Lottery-funded charity, Age UK Gateshead, has thrown a lockdown lifeline to thousands of older members of the local community by providing vital practical and emotional support.

The charity has responded swiftly to the needs of those self-isolating at home, with dedicated staff undertaking food deliveries, collection of pensions and friendly visits to keep people’s spirits up.

The local team have increased proactive welfare calls from 100 to around 3,800 every week in a bid to tackle social isolation and loneliness during the quarantine. Outgoing and incoming calls combined have amassed to over 10,000 per week, up from their average of around 650 before the lockdown.

Staff are providing around 140 hot meals a day and the charity is believed to be the only one in Gateshead that collects and drops off food to older people’s homes, as well as picking up vital prescriptions and pensions for those who are unable to do so themselves.

Age UK Gateshead’s hard-working staff also continue to offer vital visits for people with dementia and those with serious mental health issues. Trained healthcare staff are making over 323 hours of combined visits per week, comforting older members of the community or just simply providing conversation to those experiencing anxiety or depression due to lack of contact with loved ones, friends and family.

The charity has acted quickly to set up a new structure to urgently help those aged over 65 in the local area, working together with another National Lottery-funded project, Edberts House, as well as organisations such as Gateshead Council and the Citizen Advice Bureau.

Age UK Gateshead received around, £146,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, last year to extend its services throughout the borough.

Ian Wolstenholme, Age UK Gateshead CEO, said: “In the current public health crisis Age UK Gateshead is changing and supporting a phenomenal amount of people’s lives. However, we do not do this alone and none of it would be possible without the ongoing support of our partner charities, community and The National Lottery. We recognise together we are stronger and National Lottery players have allowed us to create a caring society in a time of crisis.

“It’s the smallest gestures that make the biggest impact, and together we make a difference.”

Duncan Nicholson, Head of Funding for the North East & Cumbria at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “In this time of crisis it’s heartening to see the way communities are coming together to provide each other with support. The charities and voluntary sector organisations we fund, including both Age UK Gateshead and Edberts House, are playing a vital role in their community. We are incredibly grateful for their efforts and we are doing everything we can to make it easy for them to adapt to the difficult circumstances we are all finding ourselves in.”

The National Lottery Community Fund distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes. Last year it awarded £1.4 million a day on average to projects that help people and communities thrive. 90% of the grants it makes are for under £10,000 – going to grassroots groups and charities across the UK that are bringing to life amazing ideas that matter to their communities.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk