"Keeping the spirit of the Bee Lady alive is a priority"

Andy Haynes, the recently appointed CEO of Age UK Hull, is passionate about ensuring that the organisation continues to embrace and keep alive the spirit of the Bee Lady, Hulls very own, Jean Bishop.

As Andy explains:

“As Age UK Hull we are passionate about ensuring that older people get the services they need where and when they need them – something I am sure Jean would agree with.

Moving to Hull 2 years ago it didn’t take long to learn about “The Bee Lady”, such was Jeans profile and reputation. And whilst I sadly never had to the opportunity to meet Jean, since joining Age UK Hull in June earlier this year I have had the opportunity to speak to her family and meet many people who knew Jean and who benefited from her fundraising.

Jean raised £124,000, mainly in support of Bradbury House and the services we delivered from there. Whilst I wasn’t with Age UK Hull when the decision was taken to close and sell the building, I know that it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was an essential one to safeguard services for the older people of Hull and the surrounding area.

A key issue affecting decisions about older people’s services provided by Age UK Hull, including those at Bradbury House, was that in July 2019 Hull City Council made changes to how it commissioned Health, Social Care and Wellbeing services. These changes were then further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and we had to close Bradbury House and cease face to face services, but we also lost all the income from the charity shop, gym and the café, which Jean particularly used to enjoy.

During the pandemic our committed staff team and volunteers reorganised many of our services so that we could deliver them remotely and still reach 100’s of older people each week – tackling isolation, loneliness and of course their fears regarding their health and wellbeing. As we’ve emerged from the pandemic, we’ve had to address many issues which worsened during lock down, in particular peoples fear regarding their vulnerability, isolation and loneliness.

Over the last 18 months we have established 11 community focused service user led groups across the city engaging over 150 older people each week in walking football, chair-based exercises, activity groups providing day services, socialisation and befriending opportunities. However, being out in the community across the city, and into East Riding, means that we are a lot closer to where older people in need are, making it easier for them to feel comfortable and safe to access and receive support.

Whilst the activity and social groups were services Jean very much enjoyed at Bradbury House, in fact it was at one such group where she first dressed as “The Bee Lady”, we also delivered many other services. Thanks to the commitment of Age UK Hull staff and volunteers these services were successfully delivered remotely during the pandemic and continue now in the community. Along with the community-based services already mentioned, our Befriending service tackles isolation and loneliness, falls prevention work prevents hospital admissions, Home Support services enable people to live independently in their own homes and our Information and Advice service annually brings in over £1 million a year of benefits/entitlements for older people and their carers.

Despite Jeans work, and our continued efforts as an organisation, much of our vital work with older people is again facing significant uncertainty. Hull City Council funding for Day activities, Befriending and Falls prevention work were due to end in August this year, however with less than 2 weeks’ notice Hull City Council issued a 5-month extension. We are working proactively with Hull CC on the future of such services and whilst we appreciate that many public/government agencies have their own challenges, it remains a very unsettling time for the older people we support as we cannot plan effectively for services beyond the next 5 months, January 2023.

With the health and social care systems under pressure, health care backlogs, fuel/energy costs and inflation continuing to rise then the pressures older people are facing continue to grow and worsen. We are seeing an increase in the demand for our services, both in terms of numbers and also the complexity of cases. Heat or eat is already becoming a major worry for many older people. Therefore, uncertainty around the funding for some of the most needed services for vulnerable older people of the city comes at a critical time.

I agree with what John Bishop, Jeans son, has recently said “older people aren't necessarily the sort of people to go out with placards and get militant when they're fighting to save something." When I spoke to Jeans family recently, I assured them that we are prepared to fight and campaign to safeguard older people services and I shared with them about some of the work we are doing.

If people want to support our work, in the same way as they gave to Jean, then you can contact us on 01482 324644 to discuss that. And if someone wants to get out and about like Jean did then I am certain we could arrange another Bee outfit!

As CEO of Age UK Hull, I don’t think anyone could take over the work Jean did – she was clearly unique in all that she achieved and we are committed to preserving her memory and legacy, doing so in conjunction with her family. And I believe the best way we can keep her spirt alive is to continue to work with the same commitment and passion she did to secure the funds and partnerships needed so that the older people of the city get and services they need where and when they need them.