Charity Age UK Lindsey is helping vulnerable stay connected during the coronavirus pandemic

The charity has now launched a telephone support service called Keep Connected which is running alongside other innovative ways of showing older people they are being thought of.

This has included sending out 100 Thinking of You wellbeing packs of basic supplies, as a direct response to the current Covid-19 crisis.

Working down a list of more than 600 older people who had used Age UK Lindsey services in the past, the Keep Connected Team began to make contact by phone. In the first week, its members made 226 calls to people and directly helped 11 of the most vulnerable, some of whom were in dire need, anxious and frightened.

Worried by the volume of older people needing immediate help during this restrictive period, Age UK Lindsey has now launched a Crowdfunder campaign with a target of £25,000, which will be used to expand the Keep Connected service which is being supported by organisations, such as the Lincolnshire Community Foundation.

Andy Storer, chief executive officer at Age UK Lindsey, said: “Like many organisations, we have had to adapt and change the services we are currently providing. As a result, we launched our Keep Connected service and through the phone checks we are making and other things we are doing, it is clear there is a real need for continued support for vulnerable older people.

“We are now contacting people regularly and would like to grow this service, especially as vulnerable older people are likely to need support for some considerable time to come.”

Andy also highlighted how local charities like Age UK Lindsey were self-funding and reliant on local support and therefore needed to raise the money to enable vital services such as Keep Connected to continue and expand.

To support Age UK Lindsey, supporting older people across the whole of East Lindsey, West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire, raise its target of £25,000 and expand the Keep Connected service for vulnerable older people, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/aukl-covid-response​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​.