Age UK Thatcham seeking unwanted Christmas presents to support older people

A charity is urging people to donate any unwanted Christmas presents.

Many older people can struggle with poor health and isolation during this period — not helped by increasing energy bills and the ongoing cost of living crisis.

The Age UK shop in Thatcham is seeking unwanted Christmas gifts to help it raise funds to support older people struggling this winter.

Manager at Thatcham’s Age UK shop, Donette Michelle Buckeridge, said: “It can be difficult to know what to do with gifts that will never be used, or that you don’t want.

“That’s why we’re asking local residents to donate them to the Age UK shop in Thatcham.

“Not only will you be doing your bit for the environment by joining the sustainability movement, but donations will help Age UK to raise much-needed funds to support older people who need help throughout the winter months and all year round.”

Age UK’s support services include its free national Advice Line, Telephone Friendship Service and The Silver Line Helpline.

The Silver Line Helpline — founded by Dame Esther Rantzen and now part of Age UK — is free and available 24 hours a day for any older person who would like a friendly chat.

In 2022, the helpline answered around 500 calls on average each day.

Its Telephone Friendship Service matches older people with a volunteer with similar interests to get to know each other through weekly phone calls.

Almost 240,000 calls were supported by the service last year.

The charity’s free and confidential Advice Line, which answered more than 200,000 calls last year, is open every day of the year and staffed by experts on a wide range of topics such as pensions and social care.

People can make their donations worth an extra 25 per cent by signing up to Gift Aid.

Filling out a basic form when delivering donations means Age UK will receive an extra 25p from the Government for every £1 raised from donated goods.