Age UK Hertfordshire’s mission is, quite simply, 'to improve the lives of older people in Hertfordshire'. We want to ensure that older people in Hertfordshire are valued, able to live well, and retain their independence throughout later life.
Age UK Hertfordshire is a Brand Partner of the National Charity Age UK, who campaign and influence policy in this field. Our strategy focuses on three main areas: Alleviating Loneliness and Isolation; Building Resilience within Communities and Tackling Poverty and Inequalities.
We provide a range of support and activities for older people across Hertfordshire, and rely on almost 500 volunteers, who offer their time and energy to support us in doing this
There has always been a need for voluntary sector services for older people, particularly for the most frail, and most vulnerable, however as funding shrinks across the public sector, the reliance on the third sector is growing exponentially, but without the necessary levels of funding to maintain it. We need to find new ways to fund vital projects or more older people will fall through the cracks, particularly as the numbers of older people across the County is set to rise steadily over the next 10-20 years.
We offer a range of services to meet our strategic objectives:
Help in The Home is a paid-for cleaning and domestic tasks service, offering clients greater security by knowing that our staff receive additional training in areas such as Food Hygiene, Dementia Awareness and First Aid. This extra level of support allows older people to remain independent in their own homes, by helping them keep on top of their household tasks.
Our AQS accredited Information and Advice Service offers telephone and community support, with advice on a range of benefits, Lasting Power of Attorneys, energy costs and blue badges. The service has been awarded Alternative Office (AO) status with the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) giving us the remit to issue benefit forms to our clients without needing to go through the DWP.
Active Ageing - We deliver eighteen ‘10 to 3’ Clubs across East and North Herts, including three Asian Elder Clubs that help older people stay active and feel connected with their community, reducing their feelings of social isolation The Chalmers Court Day Care Centre provides social activities for the physically and mentally frail in Rickmansworth, and the Clitheroe Health and Wellbeing Centre, offers a range of social activities in South Oxhey.
Befriending - Supported by hundreds of volunteers, our Visiting Scheme and Telephone Club provide both face to face and telephone contact, on a regular basis to help combat loneliness and social isolation county wide.
Telephone Support - For those needing a higher level of emotional support, perhaps facing challenging life events, such as bereavement, we have a telephone support service known as 'In Touch'.
Partnership Work
Community Dementia Services - We are the Lead Body of the 'Hertswise' project, with eight voluntary sector partners, supporting people with dementia and memory loss, as well as their carers and families.
Social Prescribing - In partnership with six other voluntary sector organisations, we provide the 'Hospital and Community Navigation Service' offering support services for those discharged from hospital, those at risk of hospital admission/readmission, as well as supporting vulnerable people to achieve or retain their independence in their community.
Nutrition & Dietetics - This is a new service focussed on Healthy Eating for the most frail in our communities, which we are delivering in conjunction with the Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust
Primary Care Network - Working with the Manor Park Pathfinder PCN on a new pilot project, we are supporting older people to complete their 'My Plan' paperwork to ensure any support services they work with have a complete picture of their circumstances.
