| Type | Charity |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1 April 2009 |
| Headquarters | UK |
| Website | ageuk.org.uk |
Age UK is a registered charity in the United Kingdom,[1] formed on 25 February 2009, and launched on 1 April 2009, which combines the operations of the previously separate charities Age Concern and Help the Aged to form the UK's largest charity for older people.[2] The charity operated under its original charity names as "Age Concern and Help the Aged" until the new brand launch on 19 April 2010.[3] It also includes separate but interdependent charities for the nations called Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI,[4][5] as well as its commercial services arm, Age UK Enterprises.
The merger was the largest among charities in the UK since that of the Cancer Research Campaign and Imperial Cancer Research in 2002 to form Cancer Research UK.[6]
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Age UK was formed from the merger of Help the Aged and Age Concern, creating an organisation with a combined income of around £160 million, including £47 million a year raised through fundraising, and over 520 charity shops, and income raised through its commercial services arm, Age UK Enterprises.
The merger was first confirmed in September, when Dianne Jeffrey was confirmed as the new chair of trustees.[7]
Tom Wright CBE, previously chief executive of VisitBritain, and Trustee of the Imperial War Museum was appointed Chief Executive of the new charity in November 2008.[8]
Age UK Enterprises offers products and services that are designed to either address market failure and/or meet its objective of offering products that provide value for money - for example, none of its insurance products have upper age limits.
Operating as a social enterprise, Age UK Enterprises’ product range currently includes: Travel, Home and Motor Insurance (provided by Ageas Insurance Limited); Motor Breakdown cover (provided by Europ Assistance Holdings Limited); Gas and Electricity (provided by EOn Energy Solutions), Funeral Plan (provided by Dignity Funeral Plans), Annuities Service, Equity Release, Wills and Legal Services, Holidays, Lifebook and Personal Alarms.
Products and services can be purchased either online through Age UK’s website, by telephone, or through the UK-wide network of Age Concerns/Age UK offices.
Age Concern's origins are British 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 laws 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, Sally Greengross, and Gordon Lishman.
In 1986 Age Concern established an Institute of Gerontology at King's College London into which it folded its own Age Concern Research Unit.
Help the Aged was founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole, with the aim to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.
The two brand logos from the merged charities will gradually disappear now that the new Age UK brand has been launched (on 19 April 2010) and new brand-awareness develops during 2010. Hollywood stars Eleanor Bron, Brian Cox and Ian McKellen appeared in a series of TV advertisements to support the new charity. All three actors gave their time free of charge.[9]
Tom Wright, the new charity's Chief Executive, stated "Age Concern and Help the Aged is a single organisation with one clear objective - to make a real difference to the lives of older people. By combining the unique strengths, skills and experience of our two great charities, we have created one united organisation that will be stronger and more influential than ever before."[10][11]
Age UK helps to fund, and is aided with funds raised by, the national will-making scheme Will aid, in which participating solicitors waive their usual fee to write a basic will and in exchange invite the client to donate to charity.[12]