People urged to Spring Into Action to help Age Scotland charity this April
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Age Scotland is asking people in the Highlands and Islands to get active this month to help the charity in its work to tackle loneliness and isolation among older people.
The Spring Into Action fundraiser invites participants to be active every day in April doing an activity of their choice. Options include, but are not limited to, running, cycling, skipping or walking.
Money raised throughout Spring Into Action month will be used to fund the charity's services including the free Age Scotland helpline and friendship line which is available to older people, their family and carers to offer information, advice, support and friendship.
Research shows that more than 100,000 older people in Scotland feel lonely all or most of the time. Callers to the friendship line have said that they feel better after having spoken to one of the charity's advisors.
Money raised through Spring Into Action will allow more friendship calls to be made to older people in need.
Mark O’Donnell, chief executive of Age Scotland, said: “Every week our helpline receives hundreds of calls from older people looking for support. Many callers are lonely and just want to hear a friendly voice and have a chat. Our friendship service listens, provides comfort and friendship and reassures older people that someone is interested and cares about them.
“We know that chronic loneliness is extremely bad for older people’s health, bringing with it an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and depression. Tackling loneliness and isolation is a central part of our work and we hope that as many people as possible will Spring Into Action this April to raise money to help fund this vital service and allow us to be there for older people when they really need us.”
To sign up to Spring Into Action go to https://agescotland.enthuse.com/cf/spring-into-action-47192
