Joe Robertson MP speaks on the importance of Age UK Isle of Wight

Joe Robertson, MP for Isle of Wight East, joined us last Friday to help raise awareness of Age UK Isle of Wight, the services we provide and the importance of supporting us directly as an independent Island charity.

During the video, Joe spoke with our Marketing and Digital Communications Officer, Joe Hodgkinson, about the wide range of support available to people aged 50 and over across the Isle of Wight.

From a friendly weekly conversation to practical support following a hospital stay, our services are there for older Islanders at many different points in their lives.

Supporting older Islanders across our community

Age UK Isle of Wight delivers a range of services designed to help older people remain independent, connected and supported.

These include our befriending services, which help reduce loneliness and isolation by connecting older Islanders with friendly volunteers, as well as our Dementia Care Navigators, who provide information, guidance and ongoing support to people living with dementia and those around them.

We also work alongside local health services to support people following a hospital stay, helping them return home safely and regain their confidence and independence.

Through our Just About You home help service, older Islanders can also receive practical support with everyday tasks such as housework, shopping, meal preparation and companionship.

An independent charity for the Isle of Wight

Although we are part of the wider Age UK network, Age UK Isle of Wight is an independent local charity.

This means we are responsible for raising the funds needed to deliver our services and continue supporting older people here on the Island.

People can support our work directly by volunteering their time, fundraising on our behalf or making a donation through the Age UK Isle of Wight website.

Every volunteer, fundraiser and donation helps us remain there for older Islanders and their families when they need us.

Watch the video to learn more about our work, the people behind our services and why support from the Island community is so important.

Video available to watch here: 

Social care reform and the pressure on local services

Joe Robertson MP also recorded a video with us following renewed national discussion about the future of social care.

In his accompanying message, Joe welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to place social care reform back on the agenda, while stressing that meaningful action is needed.

Joe Robertson also highlighted the close connection between social care and the pressures faced by hospitals, adding:

“We won’t properly sort hospital pressures without reforming social care.”

During the conversation, Age UK Isle of Wight’s Marketing and Digital Communications Officer, Joe Hodgkinson, spoke about the role of our Home First team in helping address these pressures locally.

Working alongside the Isle of Wight NHS Trust, the Home First service provides free, short-term support to people aged 50 and over following a hospital stay. By helping people return home safely, rebuild their confidence and access any further support they may need, the team helps make the transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible.

This support can make a significant difference to the individual, while also helping reduce delayed discharges and ease pressure on hospital beds and wider local services.

Joe Robertson MP also encouraged Islanders to take part in the national Casey Commission’s Big Conversation on Care, giving people the opportunity to share their experiences and views on the future of social care.

Click Here to watch the video

Support Age UK Isle of Wight

You can help us continue supporting older Islanders by making a direct donation, volunteering with one of our services or fundraising on our behalf.