Age UK Waltham Forest
My Story
Thank you for supporting our team in fundraising for the 20th anniversary of the London Legal Walk. We greatly appreciate your generosity.
Event Details:
- Date: Tuesday, 18th June
- Distance: 10km
Our Team:
- Helen Bigham
- Rupert Williams
- Andy Barrick
- Barry Coidan
- Emma Tozer
- Katerina Elhansi Alaoui
- Christine Saunders
- Ellen Lilley
- Liz Byrne
- Eleanor
- Harriet
- Emma Levine
- Tanya Wilkinson
- Chearine
- Stephen
About Us:
We are proud to walk alongside the Lady Chief Justice and thousands of lawyers to raise funds for Age UK Waltham Forest, a local charity dedicated to supporting older people, their families, and carers in our community. Our mission is to ensure that everyone can enjoy later life to the fullest.
What We Do:
- Provide practical services and activities promoting wellbeing and independence.
- Promote the wellbeing of older people and enhance their quality of life.
- Fight poverty, ageism, and social exclusion.
- Advocate for more effective and responsive public services for older people.
Your Support Matters:
With the ongoing cost of living crisis, your support is more critical than ever. Every donation helps us make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable older people in our community. Your helps enables us to provide Information and Advice Services to 1153 individuals on 2426 matters and claim £1,122,510 in previously unclaimed benefits in the Financial Year 2023 - 2024.
Our Stories
Fred (not actual name) is 79 and lives with his wife in Chingford.
Fred looks after his wife who has agoraphobia and dementia. Fred has been increasingly short of breath over the past few months. Recently he had some incontinence and slipped when walking, lacerating his right shin which requires daily dressings. His mobility is significantly decreased which has impacted on his daily walks. Fred recently had an operation to remove a cataract in his left eye. He says that the operation has done him no good and that he cannot see anything at all now from his left eye. Fred does most of the housework.
Fred and is wife are finding the increase in their household bills too much to pay. He received a letter from British Gas stating that he needs to pay £500. He already has a payment plan for which he pays £25 per month for unpaid bills of £820. Fred said “with my health issues and looking after my wife I forgot to increase my direct debit payment amount and paid no attention to the letters coming in. I guess I had my head in the sand, I have too much to manage”.
After we completed a benefit calculation for Fred, we helped him claim a reduction in their Council Tax, Attendance Allowance for his wife, and obtain a Blue Badge. We were also able to apply for a grant who awarded him £400 towards his energy bill.
Fred was delighted with the extra financial support and he used the Attendance Allowance benefit to pay for a carer to come in the mornings to supervise his wife when getting washed and dressed.
Mrs A has used Age UK Waltham Forest Information and Advice service on many occasions on behalf of her parents. Sadly, her father passed away two years ago and Age UK Waltham Forest provided information on Funeral Benefits.How You Can Help:
Please sponsor our walkers generously. Your contribution will directly impact the lives of those we support.
Join Our Team:
If you'd like to join us and be part of the team, please contact Helen at [email protected].
Thank you for your contribution. Together, we can make a meaningful difference.