Age Concern Suffolk is an independent local charity, established in 1948 and is a full member of the Age Concern federation. The charity works with and for senior citizens in Suffolk, campaigns on their behalf and is a provider of direct services and support across the county.

Our Mission Statement

Working with senior citizens across Suffolk to make life a fulfilling experience regardless of personal circumstances.

The activities of the charity relate to four principal functions:

• services and support;
• public education and social advocacy
• innovation and research
• partnership and co-operation.

Services and Support

Age Concern Suffolk provides a variety of services and support to older people and their carers. Click on Our Services to find out more.

Public Education and Social Advocacy

This involves raising public awareness of the needs of older people and representing them by communicating their needs and views to policy makers and finding ways to enable senior citizens to speak for themselves.

We actively campaign on local, regional and national issues, which affect local older people and their carers.

Individual advocacy is also an important feature of many services that Age Concern Suffolk provides, such as: ACCESS; and the Advice and Advocacy, Information and Befriending Services.

Innovation and Research

Age Concern Suffolk works both independently and with other organisations to identify gaps in service provision, and research new and innovative ways in which services can be developed to meet local need. This process involves consulting with older people and their family carers on the development and operation of services.

We worked with Suffolk County Council to produce an innovative range of new preventative services to enable older people to remain in control of their lives.

Our  Network of Links with Community Groups means that we are in contact with many clubs and associations around Suffolk. This gives club organisers a chance to consult with members on a regular basis and feed the information back.

We also give frailer senior citizens living in West Suffolk the opportunity to regularly comment on a range of important issues through the West Suffolk Older People’s Panel

Partnership and Co-operation

Age Concern Suffolk works with other statutory and voluntary organisations in identifying the needs of older people and their carers. We are represented at various levels within the planning processes of Health and Social Care Services in the county.

We have worked in partnership with Suffolk County Council to develop the innovative Partnership with Older People in Suffolk (POPS) which has now developed forums around Suffolk for older people to actively contribute their views on current services and future planning.

Age Concern Suffolk also supports the Suffolk Association of Voluntary Organisations (SAVO) and all the county's local forums and councils in the voluntary sector.

The organisation also actively contributes to the Eastern Region of the Age Concern federation.