The Founding of Help the Aged
Help the Aged was established in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole to address poverty, isolation, and neglect among older individuals. Initially focused on refugees, the charity expanded its activities to support older people within the UK. Over the years, Help the Aged grew substantially, employing hundreds and generating significant income to support its initiatives.
Core Areas of Work and Key Campaigns
Help the Aged engaged in diverse activities aimed at enhancing the lives of older people, including both direct aid and systemic advocacy.
- Advocacy and Campaigning: The charity actively campaigned on behalf of older people, addressing issues like elder abuse and the need for improved health and social care. A notable achievement was the government's 2008 commitment to outlaw age discrimination, influenced by years of Help the Aged's campaigning.
- Combating Fuel Poverty: Help the Aged spearheaded a campaign against fuel poverty, which occurs when heating costs exceed 10% of a household's income. This campaign played a role in the government's introduction of winter fuel payments for older people.
- Research into Ageing: The charity's research arm, Research into Ageing (which merged with Help the Aged in 2001), funded studies focusing on understanding and mitigating age-related mental decline.
- Practical Services: Help the Aged offered practical support services, including a free telephone advice line, SeniorLine, and the HandyVan service for home safety.
- Financial Services: In 2007, Help the Aged launched the Intune group, a financial services brand offering products without age discrimination, with profits supporting the charity's work.
The Historic Merger with Age Concern
In a significant development for the UK charity sector, Help the Aged and Age Concern England announced their intention to merge in May 2008. The merger was finalized in September 2008, and the new organization was officially established on April 1, 2009. Initially known as Age Concern and Help the Aged, it was rebranded as Age UK in April 2010.
While many local Age Concern branches opted to remain independent, the national organizations combined resources under the Age UK umbrella. This merger aimed to create a stronger, more unified entity to better serve older people across the UK.
The Legacy in Age UK and Age International
Although Help the Aged no longer operates under its original name, its mission is carried forward by its successor organizations. The merger strengthened their collective impact, leveraging the strengths of both former charities.
- Age UK's Work: Age UK now handles the domestic services and advocacy initiated by Help the Aged and Age Concern. Its activities include providing advice, running health and wellbeing programs, and campaigning on national policy. Age UK offers a comprehensive range of services for older people throughout the UK.
- Age International: To continue and expand Help the Aged's international aid efforts, Age UK established a separate sister charity, Age International, in 2012. Age International supports older people in low and middle-income countries, providing emergency response and promoting independence.
Comparison: Help the Aged vs. Age UK
| Feature | Help the Aged (pre-2009) | Age UK (post-2010) |
|---|---|---|
| Core Focus | Combating poverty, isolation, and neglect for older people in the UK and overseas. | Improving later life for everyone, encompassing domestic and international work. |
| Formation | Founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole. | Formed in 2009 from the merger of Help the Aged and Age Concern England. |
| Reach | Operated nationally in the UK and had an international component. | Acts as a powerful national organisation, while also having local branches and the international sister charity, Age International. |
| Key Campaigns | Focused on elder abuse, fuel poverty, and age discrimination. | Carries on campaigns based on the needs of older people, including loneliness and cost of living. |
| Services | Offered services like SeniorLine, HandyVan, and financial products. | Offers a broad range of services, including befriending, advice lines, and digital support programmes. |
The Enduring Impact
The merger strategically amplified the voices of older people. Help the Aged's foundational work in policy research and practical aid provided a strong base for Age UK. Combining resources and expertise with Age Concern allowed the new charity to address complex issues more effectively.
Age International now expertly manages the international focus of Help the Aged, working within a global network to provide humanitarian aid and advocate for older people's rights worldwide. This ensures the original vision of helping disadvantaged older people globally continues.
For current assistance or information, the Age UK website is the main resource for services previously offered by Help the Aged and Age Concern. You can learn more about their current work and history at www.ageuk.org.uk.
Conclusion
Though Help the Aged as a name is part of history, its mission endures through Age UK and Age International. The charity's legacy is evident in the comprehensive work these organizations do today. From campaigning for policy changes to providing daily support, their combined efforts continue to significantly impact the lives of older people, fulfilling the objectives Help the Aged established over six decades ago.
