Age Concern throughout Herefordshire and Worcestershire

Age Concern is a federation of nearly 400 independent charities in England that share a commitment to making later life fulfilling, enjoyable and productive.

Our mission

Our mission is to promote the well-being of all older people and to help make later life a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

Principles

Values and principles underpin what we do, why we do it, and guide how we work to achieve our mission. Our underlying principles are:

• Ageism is unacceptable: we are against all forms of unfair discrimination, and challenge unfair treatment on grounds of age
• All people have the right to make decisions about their lives: we help older people to discover and exercise these rights
• People less able to help themselves should be offered support: we seek to support older people to live their lives with dignity
• Diversity is valued in all that we do: we recognize the diversity of older people and their different needs, choices, cultures and values
• It is only through working together that we can use our local, regional and national presence to the greatest effect.

Values

Our work is also guided by a set of values:

• Enabling: we enable older people to live independently and exercise choice
• Influential: we draw strength from the voices of older people, and ensure that those voices are heard
• Dynamic: we are innovative and driven by results and constantly deliver for older people.
• Caring: we are passionate about what we do and care about each individual.
• Expert: we are authoritative, trusted and quality-orientated

Our History

Age Concern started life in 1940 as the Old Peoples Welfare Committee. The OPWC was created to discuss the problems faced by older people as families became separated or lost their main breadwinner as a result of WWII.

This committee soon gained national recognition and in 1944 it became known as the National Old People's Welfare committee. The NOPWC began to co-ordinate and facilitate the work of local committees.

In 1971 the NOPWC became completely seperate from government and got a new name; Age Concern.   Age Concern began working with Ethnic minorities and many local committees became Age Concern’s.

In July 2000 organizations using the name Age Concern came together to form a federation of charities, with a common purpose and values but made up of independent organizations. This allows Age Concerns to react to local issues while benefiting from shared best practice.