Serco Foundation Funding Puts Food on the Table

The Serco Foundation is a charitable trust, working internationally, to enhance public service outcomes for vulnerable people by supporting a range of partners, including charities, research bodies, and social enterprises.

Although the Foundation supports a wide range of initiatives, across Europe, Asia-Pacific, North America, and the Middle East it decided to generously donate £2,000 to local charity Age UK North Tyneside to support its Covid-19 response.

The Charity which supports older people in North Tyneside has mobilised its team based in North Shields and is now providing emergency hot meals, essential shopping services, carer support groups, telephone befriending and Information, Advice and Guidance delivered by its trained team of advisors.

To date the Charity has been able to provide 624 essential shopping trips, 8,787 wellbeing phone calls as well as 800 meals and 550 food parcels to those most in need who have no support in place from family, friends or neighbours. It has reached out to over 13,000 people in North Tyneside, during the pandemic.

Mr Leonard Clark said “I’m ever so grateful that you are able to offer this service. You’re an absolute lifesaver. I'm living off veg, I've cleared out my cupboards and freezer, I've nothing left.”

Kate Steadman, Chair of Trustees, said, “The Serco Foundation is delighted to support Age UK North Tyneside at this particularly challenging time. My colleagues and I were inspired to read about the charity’s amazing, genuinely transformational work for older people in the North Tyneside community, and are so glad to contribute in this small way. Thank you for all you are doing as we continue to battle the pandemic together.”

Group Chief Executive Dawn McNally said “Lockdown has had a significant impact on older people, especially those too frightened or too frail to get out their house and shop for essential food and other necessities. Serco Foundation funding is being pooled with other donations to support a range of essential and emergency services for our most vulnerable older people in North Tyneside. A massive thank you, on behalf of our customers, who are accessing these services, they are incredibly grateful”

The Charity is now beginning to see carers require a higher level of support in lockdown so has launched a virtual carer forum.

To access vital support from Age UK North Tyneside local residents should contact the Customer Service Team who are available 7 days of the week during COVID-19 Telephone 0191 2808484 or e mail customer.services@ageuknorthtyneside.org.uk