Age Concern Swindon is the largest provider of information about services for older people in the Swindon area. Their office, is located in the centre of Swindon at Number One Milton Road and is open for general information from Monday to Friday between 10am-4pm. The offices are accessible to people who use wheelchairs.

Services cover the whole of the Borough of Swindon. Some services are available to people living outside the district who look to Swindon as a central location for shopping etc. and who can get to Age Concern's Swindon office. The Swindon office also works closely with other Age Concern groups in adjoining areas and refers callers to them if necessary.

An answering machine is provided should you wish to contact Age Concern Swindon out of hours.

Age Concern's Services

Age Concern is involved in a wide range of support services. The following is just a 'taste' of the services they provide. Please note that some services are only available in particular areas and on certain days. Please check with Age Concern directly to make sure what is available in your area; if in doubt Patricia Chandler, Age Concern's Senior Manager - Services, will be pleased to help. Contact Patricia either by telephone on 01793 692166 or by e-mail to patricia.chandler@ageconcernswindon.org.uk

General information is available from Monday to Friday (10am to 12.30pm) from Age Concern's Swindon office at Number One Milton Road.

Welfare Benefits Advice

Welfare Benefits advice sessions are held on Mondays and Fridays from 10am to 12.30pm. No appointment is needed. The Pension Service holds a 'surgery' every Wednesday between 10am and 1pm at 1 Milton Road. No appointment is needed. Home visits by Age Concern Swindon advisors can also be arranged but there may be a waiting list.

Visiting and Befriending Service

A visiting/befriending service is provided by over 100 volunteers that are matched with older people who may be lonely or housebound. A leaflet is available on request. For further details contact Sarah Jefferies who is available by telephone on 01793 692166 or by e-mail to sarah.jefferies@ageconcernswindon.org.uk

Advocacy Service

An advocacy service matches volunteers with individual older people to enable them to exercise and defend their rights.

Portable Electric Fire Loans

Portable electric fires to borrow in an emergency, particularly in cold weather. Telephone the Age Concern Office on 01793 692166 to make arrangements to borrow.

Wheelchair Loans

Wheelchairs can be borrowed for up to 3 months. There is no charge for this service but Age Concern welcomes donations to help up maintain their supply of chairs. For further details telephone 01793 692166.

Fessey Day Centre

The Fessey Day Centre (for North and West Swindon) is open Monday - Saturday inclusive from 9.30am to 4pm.

Sangam Day Centre

The Sangam Day Centre is a club/drop-in centre for older Asian people and meets each Wednesday from 1pm to 4pm at the Broad Green Neighbourhood Centre, Salisbury Street, Swindon. It is now rum by an independent committee.

Caribbean Lunch Club

The Caribbean Lunch Club meets each Monday from 11am to 2.30pm at the Broad Green Neighbourhood Centre, Salisbury Street, Swindon.

Grants to Independent Lunch Clubs

Age Concern can give grants to independent lunch clubs to help with some running costs. For further information contact  Patricia Chandler either by telephone on 01793 692166 or by e-mail to patricia.chandler@ageconcernswindon.org.uk .

Other Grants

Age Concern have more information and a leaflet about other grants to older people's organisations. For further details contact Jo Osorio on 01793 692166 or by e-mail to jo.osorio@ageconcernswindon.org.uk

Will Writing Service

The Age Concern Will Writing Service by post is currently not available. However, a new magazine 'Will to Change' is available free as is other policy information and a fact sheet about end of life issues.

Age Concern Enterprises

Age Concern Enterprises offers a range of products and services with the needs of the over 50s in mind. It arranges these services through a network of Appointed Representatives operating from around 300 local Age Concerns across the UK including Age Concern Swindon.

Age Concern Enterprises is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Any profits generated by Age Concern from the products go directly to support Age Concern's charitable activities both locally and nationally.

For further information please telephone 01793 692166 or call in to 1 Milton Road on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday between 10am and 12.30pm.

Further Details

Age Concern is a federation of independent charities. For information about Age Concern nationally and about its campaigning work, please visit the national Age Concern website (www.ageconcern.org.uk).

Contact

Write or call in to:

Age Concern Swindon
Number One Milton Road
Swindon
SN1 5JE

Tel: 01793 692166
Fax: 01793 485011
E-mail: jo.osorio@ageconcernswindon.org.uk

An answering machine is provided should you wish to contact Age Concern out of normal office hours.

Age Concern Swindon - Making More of Life in and around Swindon for over 50 years

Registered Charity 800056