At the heart of the Ledbury Community

Many people in Ledbury will be familiar with the name Age UK Wyvern since their new shop opened on The Homend in July last year. As the shop approaches its first anniversary, staff and volunteers can look back on a busy year selling good quality clothing, homewares, books and toys to raise funds for the charity. But away from the town centre, Age UK Wyvern is busy with a wide range of schemes to help older people in the town live life to the full.

From their base at Ledbury Rugby Football Club, the organisation’s Sheds Together project has crafted a variety of brilliant wooden artefacts. This has the dual purpose of helping older people use and develop their DIY skills and creating fantastic new items for the wider community. Keith Copus, who co-ordinates the scheme, described the current undertaking:

“We’re working on a bench for the local community, using funding from beverage company Diageo, via The Men’s Sheds UK Association. It’s made of oak and is a substantial piece of work. At the moment, we’re talking to the town council about where it should be placed to benefit residents”.

Past achievements include restoring a lectern at the cemetery chapel and building storage facilities for Age UK Wyvern shops. Members of the group have also tried their hand at wood turning, which is proving very popular.

Sheds Together is not the only area where the charity is supporting local older people. Last financial year Age UK Wyvern provided information and advice to just over 100 people in Ledbury over the phone, through home visits or through appointments at the Masters House. A staggering £181,968 was identified in unclaimed benefits for residents of Ledbury and the surrounding area.

Sarah Turner from the charity explained, “Receiving all the money they are entitled to gives older people greater peace of mind, without having to worry about making ends meet. Many people struggle by without realising that they can claim extra money to help them. Anyone interested in using our service, to check for benefit eligibility or for information on topics like finding care or using transport, can ring us on 0333 0066 299 or email us on info@ageukwyvern.org. We can arrange face to face appointments at the library in the Masters House.”

Also based at the library is the Age UK Wyvern digital café, run by volunteers to provide support for people accessing the internet – whether it be on phones, laptops or tablets. Every Tuesday from 12:00pm – 2:00pm expert help is on hand to set up email accounts, download apps, learn how to save and send photos or try out internet shopping. The sessions are free and take place in a friendly and relaxed environment, with refreshments available.

Clare Thomas, Chief Executive of the charity, commented on Age UK Wyvern’s involvement with the town, “We feel we’ve put down strong roots in this fantastic town, thanks to our dedicated staff and volunteers, and we’re looking forward to many more years of taking an active role in the life of Ledbury”.