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Welcome to Age Concern Feltham Hanworth and Bedfont Making a difference to our older community |
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Feltham, Hanworth and Bedfont |
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Welcome to the history of Age Concern Feltham Hanworth and Bedfont In 1979 Age Concern Greater London appointed Veronica Callanan as a Development Officer, with a brief to help local older people in Feltham Hanworth and Bedfont at risk through age, isolation or disability to live at home as long as possible. This post was funded by the London Borough of Hounslow and the City Parochial Foundation. Our first offices were at Feltham Community Association (the old Hanworth Road School) in Hanworth Road, Feltham. Several projects were set up. A minibus was acquired to transport housebound clients in the area to various afternoon clubs that were started - Hanworth Library and St. Dustan’s Clubs were among the first. The minibus also enabled us to take housebound elderly people on shopping trips once a week on a rota system. A Cultural Work Centre began, whose members made numerous craft items for sale to the public. Shortly afterwards we were able to move to Crendon Lodge, in Hanworth Road Feltham, a building owned by the local authority and derelict for some time. With the help of volunteers the building was made habitable and became a base for more activities. At this time also, we acquired a charity shop in the High Street and the finance from this was invaluable in helping us to pay the expenses of our growing band of volunteers and an extra member of staff. Our services expanded, to include a group for the support of people living with the experience of dementia, designed to give carers a break, and a Government-funded MSC Scheme, which ran for about four years, which employed staff to help older people in their homes by assisting with gardening and decorating, and visiting and befriending those who lived alone, or relieving carers for a few hours. Other services started by Age Concern Feltham at this time included a Men’s' Group, and a very popular Tea Dance. At the end of 1986 Age Concern Feltham Hanworth and Bedfont moved from Crendon Lodge to Feltham Lodge, Harlington Road West. The larger premises enabled us to offer lunch to about 40 people a day, including some tenants from the Sheltered Housing Unit adjoining Feltham Lodge. A second minibus was acquired and we were able to offer lunch club places to more housebound people, as well as initiating more afternoon clubs in the area. In 1990 funding was obtained to allow us to start our Home Care Support Scheme. Our Support Workers give help in the home by offering companionship, supervision and simple nursing care to frail older people, while allowing the normal carer to have a break. Age Concern Feltham Hanworth and Bedfont has grown enormously since the early days. We now have eighteen part-time staff, many devoted volunteers who help in a variety of tasks and a range of services for both active and housebound older people, including a Home Insurance Service and an Advice and Information Service. Our Council of Management has a majority of retired people and an Annual General Meeting of members is held. Two charity shops, a Christmas Bazaar and an annual Garden Fete assist our fundraising. Our brief however remains the same - to improve the quality of life for older people at particular risk through age, isolation or disability, and to offer a positive approach to retirement for more active people. We also campaign on national and local issues on behalf of our clients and are involved in helping to plan Community Care and Social Services provisions for older people. In the future planning and development of services and activities for older people, we believe Age Concern has an important role to play. Our Information booklet gives up-to-date details of the range of services offered, and the latest Annual Report is available if requested. |
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Photographs COPYRIGHT © Age Concern 04-2007 COPYRIGHT 2008 Age Concern Feltham Hanworth and Bedfont Registered Charity No 296742. Please read our Terms of use and Privacy Policy. Designed and developed by Debby Morris |
