Annual review DRAFT 1.2 small file

A Year of Change

Love Later Life

Annual Review 2015 - 2016

During the last year, the financial environment in which we
life more difficult for too many older people and carers as
background, we are pleased to report that we have reache
previous years, and made a difference to the quality of the
of information, advice, activities and opportunities. This a

Two powerful forces continue to make this possible and ar

Time given by volunteers
Our dedicated and loyal volunteering force of over 450 peo
organisation and older people and carers in Oxfordshire. T
economic contribution, which is often overlooked. We are

Strength through partnerships
So much of what we do relies on strong partnerships: with
service, voluntary and community organisations and grou
to say, less easy to do – it requires an understanding of eac
time and real commitment – but when it works, it is magic
with us and taught us so much. Together we have been ab
we really are stronger together!

We are working for a world whe

e work has become increasingly challenging, making
services on which they depend diminish. Against this
ed and helped more older people and their families than in
eir lives in a wide range of places, with an ever richer offer
annual review gives a flavour of some of this richness.

re worthy of mention:

ople continued to be a source of strength to the
They are a potent social force but they also make a major
e hugely grateful to them and we salute them.

h health and social care providers, the police and fire
ups and with older people and carers. Partnership is easy
ch other, openness and a fair bit of give and take. It takes
c. Our thanks to all our partners who have been patient
ble to reach so much further and achieve so much more –

- Acting Chief Executive

ere those we serve love later life

600 12

Referalls made to Dementia Groups across
Oxfordshire in its first 4 Oxfordshire fo
months people who ha
been bereaved

9

Community Clubs
across the county

s 37,000
or
ave Number of people
d reached by the
Community
£4.1m information
Network
Welfare benefit
achieved for people
in Oxfordshire

1572

hours of support offered
by Home Support Options
every month

682
13,000
People doing exercise
hours of friendship through the Generation
given by Phone Games exercise service
Friends every week

A year in the

March 2015 Home Support
Get the Picture launches. celebrated its f
Ensuring older people’s voices, They now help
especially those that are less stay independe
inclined to spek up, to be heard.

June 2015 The Jazz event
Action for carers reached a on the 3rd July
record 3000 people during carers £5,700 to supp
Week 6th-12th June 2015, to Oxfordshire se
highlight support for carers.

e life of Age UK Oxfordshire

April 2015 May 2015
t options Talk, plan, Live. Dying Matters
first anniversary. week was 18-24th May. Age
220 clients to UK Oxfordshire and other
ent. organisations held a day of
seminars in Oxford city.

July 2015 August 2015
was at Rousham
and raised over Encouraging people to stay
port Age UK cool in the heat.
ervices.

A year in the

September2015 In partnership w
The Age UK Oxfordshire Standards and O
Dragonboat team raised £2,000 and Rescue, ou
to help unfunded services: Late Blanket Testing
Spring, Information and Advice blankets of whi
and Phone Friends. failure rate).

December 2015 Generation Ga
“No one should have no one” Functional Fitn
campaign. Together with the awarenss abou
Oxford Mail, we ran a daily story of Strength and
on loneliness to raise awareness
and funds.

Images of John Ogle. Taken by Jon Lewis. © Oxford Mail

life of Age UK Oxfordshire

October 2015 November 2015
with Trading
Oxfordshire Fire Golden Sunday: 350 older
ur annual Electric people enjoyed a free 2 course
g tested 737 Christmas Lunch courtesy of
ich 162 failed (22% local Oxford City restaurants.

January 2016 February 2016
Big Knit Hats in shops. 14,000
ames ran hats knitted raising £3,500 to
ness MOTs to raise support older people during
ut the importance the winter months.
d Balance.

INFORMA

“Before I spoke to you
thank you so much”

Mrs Y is 83 and called us as she had been in hospital followin
weeks in hospital after picking up an infection. She was disc
wash and dress each day. Her daughter was helping her by p
daily.

Mrs Y was very upset when she called us as she felt that she
where she feared she would get another infection. Our advi
her that help was available. We clarified what tasks she was
related to her personal care suggested that help from a care
assessed by a social worker before she left hospital, which s
didn’t wish to pursue a complaint about this and just wante
her life back on track’.

We checked whether she could fund a care agency privately
but she had very little money apart from her State Pension,
our adviser helped to put her in touch with Social & Commu
Services for an assessment of her care needs and our visitin
for welfare benefits.

Mrs Y had to wait a week for her assessment but was so relie
that she could see an end to her struggles and help would b
arranged for her.

AT I O N A N D A DV I C E
u, I didn’t know who to ask for help,

ng a fall at home. She had no broken bones but spent 3
charged home without support. Mrs Y was struggling to
providing meals to re-heat but lived too far away to visit

e wasn’t coping and was going to end up back in hospital,
iser listened patiently to her concerns and reassured
s struggling with on a day to day basis and as they were
e agency may be needed. We ascertained that she was not
should have picked up on her needs. Mrs Y decided that she
ed to ‘get

y,
so
unity
ng team

eved
be

CARERS

I am writing to you to thank you for yo
when you left I felt I had been visited b

Although you will probably know, I had to write to tell you I
wonderful unexpected surprise. I have explained on the “Ca
scooter (it had to be bought as he was so depressed at losin
walking a lot more now and I very much need good winter s

*name has been changed

S OXFORDSHIRE

our understanding of my situation -
by a friend.

have been awarded the full sum of £600. It was a
arers Remarks” that now that Roger* has a motorised
ng his car and me pushing him everywhere) I will be
shoes and mostly a good winter coat.

ONE DI

“The internet brings the world to me

The internet is a real source of fulfilment. As one 92-y
world to me, and I love it”. We worked hard this year th
develop our support provision of IT classes and Gadge
opportunities across the County, adapting our work to
experimenting with Virtual Reality equipment and 3D

G I TA L

e, and I love it”

year old woman put it: “The internet brings the
hrough ‘One Digital’ to further embed, grow and
et drop-ins, and grew the network of support
o include tablets, laptops and smart phones and
Pens, bringing the electronic world to life.

LATE S

“It allows one time to adapt to this un
and to be able to grieve with the supp
in the same situation.”

“After the unexpected death of my wife I was at very low
devastating event. I had nowhere to turn or knowledge o
classes or programmes to allow you to deal with this life

I spent several months aimlessly trying to adapt. Family a
available, but the uncomfortable thought was that their
for my welfare. A neighbour first told me about the organ
and after her conversation with an existing bereaved per
meeting. I went without having much understanding of w
alone and looking into the future without any prospects.

I met a new group of similarly placed men and women all
We had a collective empathy which was apparent from t
life saver. I would not for one moment prefer not to be wi
understand is: that option is not available, it can’t be, we
pleasure and expectation experienced when meeting frie
I would not hesitate to recommend Late Spring and inde
my situation. It allows one time to adapt to this unbeliev
support of other men and women in the same situation.

PRING

nbelievably difficult period
port of other men and women

ebb trying to deal with the consequences of such a
of how to begin to learn a new way of life. There are no
changing situation.

and friends were of help when and where they were
lives have to go on despite their undoubted concern
nisation through her charity work at a drop in centre
rson it was arranged for me to go with her to the next
why but at this stage anything was better than being
.

l of whom had experienced my despair and loss.
the start and I say without exaggeration it’s been a
ith my loved one - but an early lesson to learn and
e are where we are. My Friday meeting I regard with
ends in a companionable setting.
eed have done so with positive results to any person in
vably difficult period and to be able to grieve with the
“

Enough is Enoug

Get the Picture films people affected by c

Our Get the Picture project was called into
action at the end of 2015 to enable people to
respond to the County Council’s consultation on
a massive package of proposed savings. Many
of those potentially most significantly affected
by the savings are amongst those who are least
able to have their voices heard and Get the
Picture set out to redress this imbalance.

A number of older people and carers spoke to
the Council’s influential Performance Scrutiny
Committee in December 2015, through a
powerful short film, which enabled people who c
to the meeting and ‘speak truth to power’.
Councillor Liz Brighouse, who chairs the Commit
to look into lives of others, very useful’.

gh - Don’t Cut Care! campaign

cuts for Scrutiny Committee

n

“If this sort of thing stops, then you’re going to
have more problems with mental health” - Oxford
Community Club member

could not attend the meeting to bring their views
ttee, commented positively: ‘....[it is] very valuable

DEMENTIA OXFORD

“I’m on top of the world. Going to th
good than a bottle of pills.”

Mr B’s wife felt he was becoming increasingly withdra
Mr b was taken to a local singing class for people livin
Oxfordshire. When I followed up the visit, Mr B said
“I’m on top of the world. Going to that singing class d
Mrs B is so pleased in the change it has brought abou
the house. She is very grateful to Dementia Oxfordsh
practical support.

Dementia Oxfordshire is a new partnership between Ag
launched in November 2015. It gives vital support to pe
four months to March 2016, the service received over 6
In these early months, our dementia advisers have been
support groups and helping people with dementia feel
We are working to make Oxfordshire a dementia-friend

SHIRE

hat singing class did me more

awn and wanted a social activity he could attend.
ng with dementia by a member of Dementia

did me more good than a bottle of pills.”
ut and given her husband a new interest in leaving
hire for the information, advice and most of all,

ge UK Oxfordshire, YoungDementia UK and Guideposts,
eople diagnosed with this life-changing condition. In
600 referrals.
n meeting people within the community, setting up
valued, informed and supported.
dly community and raise the profile of dementia.

THE FINANC

SOURCES OF INCOME

ANNUAL TURNOVER

CIAL PAGES

WHERE THE MONEY GOES

NET MOVEMENT IN FUNDS

TO OUR SUPPORTERS,

Age UK Oxfordshire would like to thank each individual a
supported our work in the financial year 2015/16. Their g
ongoing work across Oxfordshire to continue. We gratef
one of our supporters who thoughtfully left us a gift in th
our local fundraising committees and volunteers for thei
which we couldn’t do without.

Adrian Swire HM Roberts
Audrey Skeats Jean Fisher
Bartlett Taylor Charitable Trust John Crawford
Comic Relief – Get the Picture PF Charitable Trust
Comic Relief – Recharge for Care Peggy Heeks
Deirdre Jalie Persimmon Homes
Doris Field Charitable Trust Sanctuary Housing
Elizabeth Birchall The Arts Council
Esmee Fairbairn The Cabinet Office
Evelyn Humphries

and organisation who
generosity enabled our vital
fully remember each and every
heir will. Our thanks also go to
ir hard work and commitment,

The Big Lottery – One Digital
The Karen June Thornton Charitable Trust
The Lennox and Wyfold Foundation
t The Oxfordshire Community Foundation
The Rayne Foundation
The Robert and Margaret Moss Charitable
g Trust
The Tudor Trust
W G Edwards Charitable Foundation

0345 450 1276
[email protected]
www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire

Printers Logo

With the support of:
Registered charity 1091529