Members of NHS Property Services volunteered their time to help prepare for the grand opening of the new Age UK Lancashire Charity Shop in Burnley.
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals and Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trusts have come together with Age UK Lancashire to help promote Healthy Living and a new Winter Preparedness Programme.
The new Age UK Lancashire store, at the Vincent Farrell Centre on Temple Street – a stone’s throw from Burnley Football Club - officially opened its doors on Friday 19 May, with local MP Anthony Higginbotham cutting the ribbon, alongside Age UK Lancashire Operations Director Donna Studholme.
As part of NHS Property Services’ role helping the NHS deliver on its Long-Term Plan and in line with the strategy to be a responsible business, the work was part of a commitment to protecting and promoting local communities, through a corporate social responsibility strategy.
This is achieved by reducing demand on NHS services through supporting community-based health initiatives and addressing social issues to improve overall population health.
Preparing for the opening, volunteers changed light fittings and taps, spent much time gardening and much more. They also persuaded suppliers to provide materials free of charge.
Janine Dawson, Age UK Lancashire Retail Manager, said: “The support provided by NHS Property Services team has been incredible. The scale and range of work they achieved has been extremely beneficial to us, saving us time and money. They even reached out to local suppliers Edmundson Electricals and Plumbase to provide materials free of charge.”
“Moreover, the attitude of all involved was fantastic and nothing was too much trouble. We cannot thank them enough.”
At the shop opening, Age UK Lancashire promoted Healthy Living, providing 30 gift bags for the first customers, each of which contained a gift voucher, as well as Healthy Living and Scams Awareness Booklet, local services guide, fridge magnet and pen and other information.
In addition to water bottles, Age UK Lancashire can also provide battery operated light bulbs (in case of power outages), ferrules for the bottom of walking sticks and the Lions “Little Green Tubs that Save Lives” which in addition to containing all the info that emergency services require when they attend a call, they double up as Herbert Protocol leaflets to aid the police if a resident goes missing from home, usually in the case of dementia.
That collaborative spirit will continue, with the Trust working with colleagues from Lancashire and South Cumbria and Age UK Lancashire on a Winter Preparedness Programme focussed upon the prevention of malnutrition across Lancashire.
The aim is to support those at risk of malnutrition within our mild to moderately frail population.
Together we are aiming to prevent under-nutrition and dehydration within Lancashire through delivery of a Winter preparedness programme this summer.
Winter Preparedness Programme 2023
- “1 in 10 people over the age of 65 are malnourished or at risk of malnutrition” which equates to over 1 million older people
- “People can become malnourished if they don’t eat enough for two to five days”
Malnutrition Task Force 2021 malnutritiontaskforce.org.uk/resources
- “1 in 3 people aged 65years+ are at risk of malnutrition admission to hospital”
- “20% of older people are dehydrated”
- “47% of older people who fall are dehydrated”
Age Friendly Salford Nutrition and Hydration Conversations: How to Guide 2023
From 3 May 2023 until 31 October this programme aims to raise public awareness of the importance of optimising nutrition and hydration through:
- a collaborative review of AgeUK Lancashire new starter assessments
- the initiation of 1:1 conversations with Age UK Lancashire clients
- community awareness and educational sessions delivered by the Age UK Lancashire team
- prioritised focus of community Health & Wellbeing events organised by Age UK Lancashire
- active collaboration with the LSCFT HARRI bus
- signposting, promotion and utilisation of appropriate Age UK Lancashire resources
Together we will:
- Increase confidence within our voluntary sector to initiate conversations about nutrition and hydration with clients
- Raise public awareness of under-nutrition and dehydration
- Raise public confidence in how to optimise nutrition and hydration with a food first approach
- Support public understanding of when to seek appropriate support from a Healthcare Professional
The AgeUK Lancashire Healthy Living Leaflet provides some great practical hints and tips.
