International

Age Scotland's main partner is HelpAge International, a development agency and a network of older people’s associations, community-based organisations, NGOs, academic institutions and international agencies.

As a network, HelpAge International has more than 80 affiliates in 56 countries. It is the only global network of not-for-profit organisations with a mission to improve the lives of disadvantaged older people.

As a development agency, HelpAge International supports more than 300 local organisations focusing on development and emergency relief programmes in 41 developing countries.

It works by:
• supporting practical programmes;
• giving a voice to older people; and
• influencing policy at a local, national and international level.

Its main focus areas are: helping older people to make a living; ensuring healthy lives; helping the voices of older people to be heard; and providing age-appropriate emergency relief.

Age Scotland provides financial support to HelpAge International.

Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC Scotland)

DEC Scotland is an umbrella organisation which launches and coordinates Scottish charity responses to major disasters overseas such as Famine in the Horn of Africa, the Pakistan floods and the Japan earthquake and tsunami, in association with the DEC.

DEC Scotland enables the Scottish public to donate in response to these disasters by bringing together the leading aid agencies to finance relief for people affected in poorer countries, spending in the order of 90% of the money raised on overseas aid work including supplies, staff and transport.

Individual DEC Scotland agencies have received emergency funding from the Scottish Government but DEC Scotland never spends more than 5% of the money it raises on fundraising and its member agencies never spend more than 7% supporting their aid efforts from Scotland. This means the minimum spent on aid delivered overseas (much of it by partner organisations operating in the affected areas) is 88%.

Members in Scotland include; Age Scotland, the British Red Cross (Scotland, Northern Ireland and Isle of Man), Christian Aid Scotland, Oxfam Scotland and Save the Children Scotland.