Age UK Solihull AGM

Last week’s AGM looked back on the wonderful things Age UK Solihull has carried out during the past year and looked forward into the bright future of the charity, which the Mayor described as being a most “significant service”.

Highlights included the great success of the winter warmth programme, which is becoming to be even more significant heading into the winter months, and the emphasis that no one should have to face their problems on their own. It was acknowledged that the vulnerable can be “isolated without being lonely and lonely without being isolated”, and it was mentioned how incredibly important our home support service is in tackling loneliness that appears to grow with age. Our postural stability exercise classes were also thanked for helping those frequent fallers who need a bit more support. Figures showed 112 frequent fallers (those with a history of falls within the past 12 months) are attending classes over a 20-week period and the programme is seen to be one of the most successful in preventing future falls.

The Annual Accounts were approved, and Trustees re-elected.

Following the formalities of the meeting, the Fundraising Team gave a presentation about their successes over the past 12 months. They updated attendees on their various funding streams, which included legacies, general donations and trusts and foundations. They also talked about support from the local community, including the work they have been doing with local schools. Our daring parachute jumpers contributed a significant amount of the funds raised and we are charity of the year at Olton Golf Club. Sydney Mitchell Solicitors have also recently appointed us as their charity of the year, just as a 3-year partnership with Coventry Building Society came to a close. Turning to our fundraising events - our interactive quiz nights held at Solihull Moors Football Club have proved popular and our recent Armistice Day event with around 70 attendees was a success. One of our annual fundraisers, The Big Knit, in partnership with Innocent Drinks, has grown year on year and this year we have our highest target yet of woolly hats for our supporters to knit at a staggering 9,327. 25p from each of these creations is donated   to the charity by Innocent, so if we hit our target, £2,331 will be raised.

The team talked about the Winter ‘no-one’ campaign, which this year carries the theme ‘no-one should have no-one to turn to’ and promotes the information and advice service. The TV advertisement was shown. Following this, the team presented on how the use of social media can help Age UK Solihull connect with more of those who may need our services or may wish to support us. Our Twitter page has now reached over 2,600 followers and is our most frequently used platform of engaging with our supporters.

The presentation concluded with a brief look at what’s coming up, including our Christmas Raffle, chocolate bouquet and our Christmas gifts campaign for our clients. This rounded off what was a wonderful celebration of Age UK Solihull’s fantastic year.