Age Concern Cymru

Ty John Pathy
13/14 Neptune Court
Vanguard Way
Cardiff
CF24 5PJ

Tel (Helpline): 0800 00 99 66 (run by Age Concern England)
Tel (Admin): 029 2043 1555
Web: www.accymru.org.uk

Age Concern Cymru is Wales' leading national charity working to improve the lives of all older people.

They believe older people in Wales should be able to lead healthy and fulfilled lives, have adequate income, access to high quality services and the opportunity to shape their own future.

Age Concern Cymru seeks to provide a public voice for older people in Wales and to raise awareness of the issues of importance to them.

They have five main areas of work:

• Initiating consultation, partnership and research.
• Influencing policy.
• Supporting direct services.
• Campaigning and raising awareness.
• Promoting service standards.

Their work is important because:

• 25% of the Welsh population will be over state retirement by 2015.
• 3 out of 5 pensioners live on or below the poverty line.
• 10% of older people live in housing classified as unfit.
• Life expectancy is lower in Wales than other parts of the UK.
• 25% of Wales 350,000 carers are over state retirement age.
• 1 in 3 pensioners live alone.

To address these issues Age Concern Cymru:

• Promotes positive ageing, active retirement and lifelong learning.
• Campaigns for higher pensions and raise awareness of benefits.
• Raises awareness of fuel poverty and promotes energy efficiency.
• Promotes healthy ageing and campaigns for better health services.
• Works in partnership to improve the lives of carers.
• Undertakes research into issues such as loneliness and isolation.