A brief history

A small steering group of interested people from the Croydon community started working together to create an information and advice service for older people in Croydon.

In November 1995 the operation started as Croydon Council on Ageing, based in an office suite. With a bus stop right outside the door bringing people into the main Croydon shopping centre, it gave easy access to those living in the densely populated North of the Borough in particular.

The organisation started with two full time staff, part time administration support and two volunteers and progressed to opening three days a week meeting clients and taking telephone enquiries as a strong volunteer workforce was rapidly built up.

Age Concern Croydon has grown dramatically in the ten years since it started. Currently we run 12 projects, with 17 full and part time staff, and over 120 volunteers dealing with more than 10,000 enquiries a year, a total of more than 44,000 since we started, which shows the need for Age Concern Croydon.

It is easy to identify particular successes such as the £2.5million of unclaimed benefits we have raised for clients, but the good standing of the organisation with our partners in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors is a testament to the effectiveness of the staff and volunteer team.

In November 2009 we opened a second office in Katharine Street, central Croydon (opposite the Town Hall and Clocktower) and in July 2010 we changed our name to Age UK Croydon, in partnership with the national Age UK charity.

There are many possibilities to expand further, but the limitations of funding and premises present a number of difficulties. However, if you would like to tell us about other services you would like us to provide, please contact:

The Service Manager

Tel: 020 8680 5450

Fax: 020 8239 6015

Email: acc@ageconcerncroydon.org.uk