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Statement from Age UK Exeter’s CEO Martyn Rogers:

The coronavirus pandemic has had a severe impact on Age UK Exeter’s finances and services we provide, particularly our day care services and group based activities. 

We have lost half of our income. Even with Devon County Council underwriting our day service and enabling contracts to the end of September and the furloughing of non-essential staff to October, we are still losing £5,000 a month.  If we do nothing we will face a loss of £24,000 in October and then, when furloughing ends, a loss £50,000 in November and every month following. We simply do not have the reserves to cope with losses of this scale.

We are well aware of the threat the virus poses to the vulnerable older people who use our day services and find it hard to see how we can resume these services in a way that is both safe for those attending and financially viable for the charity.

Our board of trustees is therefore proposing cost saving measures which could include the closure of our day care and catering services with the potential loss of 24 jobs, as well as giving up the lease on our Cowick Street premises, which cost us around £50,000 a year in rent, utilities, maintenance and insurance.

We are currently consulting with staff and stakeholders about our future structure and a final decision will not be made until the end of August. If we decide that we cannot reopen our day services then we will have discussions with our day service clients and their families about alternative services we can provide that are safer than the risks posed by large group based activities.

These proposed changes will be distressing news for all the staff and volunteers who have invested so much in our day care and catering services over the years, and for the clients and customers who have benefited so greatly from them.

In spite of our financial challenges it is expected that our one to one enabling service, cleaning and gardening, information and advice, support for carers of people living with dementia, social contact for those living alone, Men in Sheds, Wellbeing Exeter and Hospital to Home service will all continue.

If you’d like to help us weather this storm and so remain a force for good in the city, then we’d be delighted if you would consider donating to the Age UK Exeter Covid-19 Emergency Appeal so that our services can continue during this difficult time and we can build again for a brighter future. To show your support please go to:

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/AgeUKExeterCoronavirusAppeal  

Or use the donate button above.

Thank you.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION - PLEASE READ!

UPDATE 21/07/2020: WE ARE EXPERIENCING TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH OUR PHONE LINES AND HOPE TO HAVE THIS RESOLVED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE - PLEASE CONTINUE TO CALL US. ALTHOUGH OUR COWICK STREET CENTRE IS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC, OUR STAFF CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO SUPPORT OLDER PEOPLE DURING THIS PANDEMIC.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR ENQUIRY AND WE ARE AVAILABLE BETWEEN 8.30 AND 5PM MONDAY TO FRIDAY

HOW TO GET HELP

We are working closely with Exeter City Council and Wellbeing Exeter in a joint effort to support local people during this pandemic. If you need support for yourself or an older person in Exeter, please complete the online form by clicking HERE or call the Exeter Community Wellbeing Helpline on 01392 265000 or use this link:

https://exeter.gov.uk/clean-safe-city/community-safety/coronavirus/exeter-community-wellbeing/

Age UK has also produced a new guide about coronavirus (COVID-19) that includes information about the symptoms of the virus, how you can reduce the risk of catching the virus and spreading it to others, and how you can continue to look after yourself and others. It includes a useful organisations section with helpful signposts to other sources of specialist information. VIEW IT HERE

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Exeter Community Wellbeing has been set up to assist individuals and community groups to help and support each other during this challenging time. They would like to hear from individuals, community groups or networks who would like to offer activities or support. Find out more here.

Our quality marks

Age UK Exeter has achieved the Age UK Charity Quality Standard (CQS).  The CQS is externally assessed by quality assessment experts, SGS.

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