Age UK Staffordshire thanks community for support following The Big Night In

Age UK featured in BBC One’s The Big Night In fundraiser to raise money to support older people during the coronavirus pandemic.

Age UK Staffordshire would like to thank the generous people of Staffordshire for supporting BBC One's The Big Night In, which aired on Thursday 23 April and raised an incredible £27 million.

A portion of this will go towards Age UK's Emergency Coronavirus Appeal, some of which will be distributed to local Age UKs, including Age UK Staffordshire to help support older people in our community during this unprecedented health emergency.

For the first time ever and together with BBC One, BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief joined forces to present The Big Night In to support the people who are making a difference and to raise money to help those who really need it.

Urgent need for Age UK Staffordshire’s vital services has shot up – including essential deliveries e.g. shopping, providing support in the home, practical advice and much needed companionship.

The local Charity is calling on everybody who can to help them keep their vital services running so they can continue to provide practical support in Staffordshire by donating to Age UK Staffordshire at https://www.ageuk.org.uk/staffordshire/.  

Naomi Pay, CEO at Age UK Staffordshire, said: 'We are thrilled to have been part of this huge event and we are so grateful to everybody, especially the people of Staffordshire, who came together to show their generous support on the night.

'To be part of Comic Relief is a real honour, we are all facing a devastating threat right now and it is older people who are among the most at risk. Too many older vulnerable people are now completely alone and we desperately need everybody’s support so we can be there for people in Staffordshire who urgently need us.

'We are so grateful for the support we have received, all donations we’ve had so far as well as funds from The Big Night In will really help us to keep on providing comfort, hope and practical support, but there’s a lot more for us to do. Please continue to support Age UK Staffordshire so we can continue to run our essential frontline services in the coming weeks and months.'

Visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk/staffordshire/for more information on the Charity’s services.  

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Notes to editors

Ref: SGRBADSKCALB

Age UK’s Emergency Coronavirus Appeal will be raising funds on behalf of itself and local Age UK charities and The Silver Line Help Line (a subsidiary of Age UK).

If we find that the needs of older people change during this emergency or we raise more than £10 million we will apply any money raised to where the needs are greatest.  

Although it is Age UK’s aim to raise at least £10m, if this target cannot be met the funds raised during this emergency appeal will still be disbursed for the purposes listed in this appeal; wherever the need is greatest. 

Local Age UKs and The Silver Line Help Line are also registered charities.