Don’t let loneliness ruin Christmas

Age Scotland is calling on older people in North Edinburgh who feel lonely or who face difficulties over the Christmas holiday to make use of Silver Line Scotland, a new free* national helpline offering information, friendship and advice.

0800 4 70 80 90

The service, which is delivered in partnership by Age Scotland and Esther Rantzen’s charity The Silver Line Helpline, will be taking calls all day and every day during the holiday period, and throughout 2014.

Age Scotland Chief Executive Brian Sloan said: “Loneliness can hit hard at this time of year, with older people who live alone, or who have caring responsibilities, being particularly vulnerable. Callers to Silver Line Scotland will be greeted by someone who is friendly and helpful, and who understands that there’s no shame or stigma in admitting that you feel lonely. But the service is also there for older people, and their friends, families and carers, who just want practical advice and information.”

Topics that Silver Line Scotland can assist with include welfare benefits, community care, home safety and repairs, accessing health services and information about local groups and services for older people.

The Charity also publishes ‘Hot Tips,’ a free 2014 calendar that offers information and advice to help older people stay safe, well and comfortable all year round. Calendars are available in libraries, GP’s surgeries and from some MSP’s constituency offices.

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Get knitting – hats the way to do it!

Age Scotland

An innocent pastime – get knitting!

Knitters in Edinburgh are invited to help older people by knitting wee woolly hats to adorn innocent smoothie bottles.   The be-hatted smoothies will be available in stores from November, and for each sold innocent drinks will give 25p to Age Scotland.

The Charity will use funds raised to develop services including theAge Scotland Helpline and local support for older people’s clubs and groups.

To register for the Big Knit and to get free basic and creative knitting patterns call 0845 833 9315 or visit www.agescotland.org.uk.

Hats can be sent to Age Scotland, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR, up until 27 September.

Age Scotland fundraiser Alison Payne says: “This year in celebration of 10 years of the Big Knit challenge we’re offering a £50 book token prize for the most creative hat.  We’re thrilled that one of Scotland’s most exciting new playwrights, Sylvia Dow, has agreed to judge our entries.”

Sylvia Dow, who wrote her first play at the age of 73, says: “’ I’m delighted to lend my support to the continued success of the Big Knit, which is a great way of raising funds to help older people while flexing your creative muscles.”

James Peach, innocent drinks, said: “It’s a fantastic way to get creative, knit a little hat to adorn a smoothie bottle and raise money for Age Scotland to help older people. We’re massively grateful to everyone who joins in and helps make this year’s campaign a huge success.”

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Call for North Edinburgh to nominate ‘older people’s champions’

hnadsNorth Edinburgh residents are invited to nominate their local champions for older people for the Age Scotland Awards 2013.  The Charity is looking for individuals, groups, partnerships and services that are inspirational in making a difference to older people.  

The Awards will be presented at the Scottish Parliament on 1 October, the UN International Day of Older Persons – with 30 August the closing date for nominations.

Nominations are invited in five categories: campaigning and influencing, partnership working, services for older people, volunteer of the year and Age Scotland member group of the year. These are sponsored respectively by McCarthy and Stone, Raeside and Chisholm, Specsavers at Home, David Urquhart Travel and Solicitors for Older People Scotland.  Details on how to nominate are available online atwww.agescotland.org.uk/awards  or by calling 0845 833 9334 to request a postal entry form.

Brian Sloan, Age Scotland Chief Executive, said: “Through the Awards we aim tochallenge popular myths about later life and our ageing population, demonstrate the vibrancy of older people’s voluntary action, and inspire others to follow the example of Scotland’s best services for, and by, older people.  So if you know of, or are, an individual, group or service in north Edinburgh worthy of wider recognition, whether in the public, private or voluntary sector, a nomination from you will be warmly welcomed.”AgeScotland