Together we're not alone.
Your support has the power to change the lives of older people who are feeling lonely.
Do you need Help through Winter?
We're working in partnership with many local organisations on the Help through Winter initiative funded by Somerset Council via the Household Support Fund.
We can help over 60s with benefits advice, activities and services to help reduce loneliness.
We need your help
𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗻, 𝗕𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝗹𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻.
Imagine if you lived alone, never saw anyone, had no one to talk to and it was making you feel lonely and miserable. If you can’t you are lucky, for this is the daily reality of many older people in Somerset and North Somerset who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in this position.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲. Older people are matched with a Volunteer who pays them a visit each week (when the volunteer is available) just to provide a bit of much needed company.
However loneliness is such an issue at the moment in our area that sadly we have dozens of older people who are on a waiting list for this service. We really need people like you!
It's in your power to make someone happy, to give them a reason to be cheerful and to give them something to look forward to each week. 
This is an enjoyable role that really doesn’t take up much time but really does make a huge difference.
If you are willing to help please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
This map shows where we have the greatest need for Volunteers at the moment
In these areas we have older people on a waiting list, who would greatly appreciate the support of a volunteer.
How have we been supporting older people in Somerset and North Somerset?
Here are our latest facts and figures.
Issue 3 of our Guide to Later Life in Somerset and North Somerset!
We are delighted to introduce our third Guide to Later Life in Somerset and North Somerset, packed full of useful information to help you navigate later life.
You can view it online or download it
View the Guide to Later Life online
Download the Guide to Later Life (pdf)
Supporting older people in Somerset and North Somerset Age UK Somerset is an independent local charity with the goal of enabling all older people in our area to live later life to the full. Whether you’re on a quest to live well into old age, going through tough times or struggling with the cost of living, get in touch. We're only a phone call away and we are here to help. |
Age UK Somerset's Services
Our Wellbeing Service is about ensuring that older people have the opportunity to lead the very best life they can.
Because growing older is a different experience for everyone, the Wellbeing Service offers a range of different elements - such as Walk and Talk, Wellbeing Friends and Friendly Phone Calls - to help individuals over 60 feel less lonely and always listened to and to improve their quality of life.
The free elements that make up Age UK Somerset's Wellbeing service
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Walk and Talk
Our free Walk and Talk programme is for older people who live alone, feel isolated and would like the company of a friendly volunteer to talk to during a regular short walk while enjoying the benefits that getting outdoors and being more active can bring. The service helps to reduce loneliness and improve emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.
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Wellbeing Friends
Our free Wellbeing Friends programme is available for older people in Somerset and North Somerset who live alone and feel isolated or lonely but for whom our Walk and Talk programme is not the right solution. It matches a client with a volunteer who will visit regularly for a friendly chat.
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Friendly Phone Calls
Our Friendly Phone Calls service is for anyone aged over 60 in Somerset, who may sometimes feel lonely, isolated, or a bit low and would appreciate having a regular telephone chat with a friendly volunteer.
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Our other services
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Information & Advice
We provide a free information and advice service for older people, their families and carers.
We can help with lots of issues. Whatever your question call or email us and we'll try to help.
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Ageing Well exercise groups
Promoting physical activity for mental and physical health and wellbeing, our Ageing Well service usually runs more than 150 exercise classes each week. Some of our community classes have restarted, and we also continue to offer some online sessions for those who wish to stay fit at home.
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Dementia Services
We offer support for people living with dementia in Somerset and North Somerset, their families and carers. We run weekly 'Memory Connections' (MCST) groups and we also provide Dementia Awareness Workshops.
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Help with Benefits
We provide a free welfare benefits service for over 60s in Somerset and North Somerset. If you receive a state pension, we can check to see if you are entitled to benefits such as Pension Credit or Attendance Allowance. Depending on the outcome of the check we may be able to assist with the claim forms that need completing.
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Falls Prevention
The effects of a fall on an older person can be devastating both physically and psychologically.
Our Falls Prevention team provides special exercise sessions to improve strength and balance which have been proven to lessen the risk of falls.
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Toenail Cutting Service
Try our Toenail Cutting service to help you to stay comfortable on your feet
If you are over 55 and no longer able to cut your own toenails this service may be for you. Our trained staff provide a simple toenail cutting service, rated 'Good' by CQS, at clinics across Somerset and coming soon, North Somerset.
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News
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And the winner is...
Published on 06 December 2024 12:09 PM
We are delighted to announce that the Brewhouse Theatre in Taunton was named as the Age Friendly Tourism business of...
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Charity Barn Dance in Hutton raises £800 for charities!
Published on 18 September 2024 02:53 PM
A Charity Barn Dance is being held in Hutton in aid of Age UK Somerset & The Labrador Rescue Trust on Saturday 19th Oct.
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Volunteer - Your Time Your Way
Published on 15 July 2024 09:00 AM
We’ve partnered with Spark Somerset & other Somerset charities for the "Volunteer – Your Time, Your Way" campaign.
Would you like to receive information from us in a different format?
If you need any information that we provide (factsheets, posters, leaflets, etc), in a different format, please contact us:
email: info@ageuksomerset.org.uk
Telephone: 01823 345610
Post: Age UK Somerset, Ash House, Cook Way, Taunton, Somerset TA2 6BJ
As part of providing documents in another way, we will need to send you messages or documents. Please let us know how you want us to send messages and documents to you and which format you would prefer, for example large print or audio recording.
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Our quality marks
Age UK Somerset has achieved the Age UK Charity Quality Standard (CQS). The CQS is externally assessed by quality assessment experts, SGS.