The Origins: A Response to Wartime Hardship
The roots of Age Concern trace back to 1940 during World War II when the Old People's Welfare Committee (OPWC) was formed to help older people affected by the war and the limitations of existing support [1, 2]. This committee, established after a meeting of government and voluntary groups, was chaired by Eleanor Rathbone [1]. By 1944, its growing network across the country led to its renaming as the National Old People's Welfare Committee (NOPWC) [1].
Post-War Growth and Rebranding
The post-war era and the introduction of the welfare state provided increased funding opportunities, allowing the NOPWC and its local branches to expand their services [1]. The number of local committees significantly increased during the 1950s and 60s, focusing on coordinating services, developing support, and training [1].
A major change occurred in 1971 when the NOPWC, under David Hobman, became independent from the government and adopted the name Age Concern [1]. This marked a shift towards becoming a direct service provider and a public advocate for older people's needs [1]. This rebranding helped the federation of local groups gain influence [1]. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, Age Concern became a significant force in the voluntary sector, launching campaigns and offering services such as information centres, day centres, and research initiatives [1].
The Merger and the Formation of Age UK
By the 2000s, Age Concern was a large federation of local organizations [1]. Simultaneously, Help the Aged, founded in 1961, was another major charity supporting older people [1]. In May 2008, the two charities announced plans to merge [1]. On April 1, 2009, Age Concern England and Help the Aged officially combined [1]. The new entity operated temporarily before launching its new brand, Age UK, in April 2010, creating one of the largest charities in the UK sector [1, 5].
Comparison: Age Concern vs. Help the Aged (Pre-Merger)
| Feature | Age Concern | Help the Aged |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | Origins in 1940 (as OPWC) [1] | 1961 [1] |
| Primary Focus | UK-based welfare, services, and campaigning [1]. | Initially focused on overseas aid, later expanded to UK [1]. |
| Structure | A federation of many independent local charities [1]. | A more centralized national and international organization [1]. |
| Key Activities | Information & advice, day centres, research, campaigning [1]. | Fundraising, international aid, charity shops, housing [1]. |
Age Concern's Enduring Legacy
The merger was not universally joined, and many local Age Concern charities chose to remain independent, continuing to operate in their communities separate from Age UK [1, 3]. Examples include Age Concern Central Lancashire and Age Concern Luton [1].
Despite this, the formation of Age UK represents the continuation of Age Concern's pioneering work, from its wartime beginnings to its role as a service provider and advocate [1, 2]. Age UK carries on the mission of providing crucial services and campaigning for the rights and dignity of older people [1, 2]. You can find more details about their current work on the official Age UK website [2].
A Challenging Initiative: The 'Heyday' Project
In 2006, Age Concern launched 'Heyday,' a membership service for those approaching or in retirement [1]. This project aimed to offer advice on finance, health, and work via a subscription model [1]. However, it did not attract the expected number of members and resulted in significant financial losses, exceeding £22 million by 2009, prior to the merger with Help the Aged [1].
