You Make A Difference - Age Concern Neath Port Talbot Volunteers

"You Make a Difference Day"

As Older Peoples Commissioner for Wales, I would like to send my congratulations on the achievements made by the Money Matter project since it was launched two years ago and wish the You Make a Difference Day which marks these achievements every success.

Many people have already contacted me about the difficulties they are experiencing of living on a fixed income. To try and raise the issue of income maximisation, the Commission has recently worked in partnership with Care & Repair Cymru to send a joint letter to all those over 60 that Care & Repair has helped over the last six months. It encouraged older people to seek advice on how they may be able to reduce their fuel bills. The letter raised awareness of the HOMEHEAT HELPLINE, where specialist advisers give advice and are also able to transfer callers directly through to the right department of their gas and electricity supplier.

To date I have received 120 responses to this letter from older people who have shared their experiences and passed on their comments. Many have said that the information has helped them reduce their fuel costs. The evaluation of this piece of work has prompted the Commission to consider the further development of this work, in order to maximise opportunity to reach older people with information that is likely to benefit them.

I recognise and salute the outstanding efforts made by volunteers that ensure initiatives and projects such as this are able to exist. Through their kind help and support, many older people in the Neath Port Talbot area have realised unclaimed income and had their quality of life improved. The work of volunteers is often undervalued and under-appreciated. Events such as this ensure that the difference they make to the lives of others is fully acknowledged and honoured.

The Older Peoples Commission finds working in partnership with organisations such as Age Concern and Help the Aged a vital way of connecting with older people in their areas and looks forward to building longstanding relationships with these organisations in the future.

Although, unfortunately due to prior engagements, I am unable to attend the event in person today, I would like to send my best wishes for the success of the event and my support for the initiative.

Ruth Marks
Older Peoples Commissioner for Wales

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism