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Scams Awareness Project scoops national award

The successful partnership between Age UK Cheshire East and Cheshire East Council Trading Standards Team has been recognised with a Charted Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) award.

The Older People Scams Awareness and Aftercare Project, funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund, raises scams awareness with people aged 50+ across Cheshire East, and supports older victims of fraud to get back on their feet. Over 6,000 people receive its scams awareness update bulletin each month, and it offers scams awareness sessions to groups of older people and those who work with them.

Due to its positive impact on the community and victims of scams, the project has been awarded a CTSI Brian Smith Individual Heroes Award. This is given to recognise the bravery of scam victims and the officers that work on these difficult cases. Falling victim to a scam can devastate someone’s life, and it happens to even the sharpest of us. The Individual Heroes award is given to those who look out for vulnerable neighbours, volunteer within their communities, and those who may be a victim, but refuse to be defined by it.

The award was presented at a ceremony in London on Tuesday 19 October. Attending the event, with Cheshire East Council Trading Standards Enforcement Officer Andy Burrows, project manager Sally Wilson commented, “We are delighted that the project’s success over the past eighteen months has been recognised. We receive the award on behalf of the hard-working teams at Age UK Cheshire East and the borough’s Trading Standards Service, especially our Scams Awareness Champions who volunteer to raise awareness in their communities. This award is also to recognise the bravery of scam victims we have worked with in coming forward for support, so they can get back on their feet and be a valued member of their community”.

Andy (2nd from left) and Sally of the Scams Awareness and Aftercare Project receiving the award in London from John Herriman (far left), Chief Executive Chartered Trading Standards Institute and Steve Smith (2nd from right) Managing Director TrueCall

Councillor Mick Warren, chair of Cheshire East Council’s Environment & Communities Committee, said: “I warmly congratulate our Trading Standards Service and the Scams Awareness and Aftercare Project team on this deserved award for the excellent and important work they undertake to protect our older residents from unscrupulous scammers, who seek to take advantage of their vulnerability, especially during the current Covid-19 pandemic.

“It is hard to believe there are people who will prey on our elderly and vulnerable residents during this challenging time but, very sadly, the number of reports from victims shows that it is all-too-often the case.”

“Protecting our older people from this kind of criminal activity is vital and I wish to thank Age UK Cheshire East for the work that they are doing with our Trading Standards Team. Well done all.”

Information about the project’s work can be found at www.ageukce.org. If you would like to receive the monthly bulletin by email, book a scams awareness session for your group or volunteer on the project in your community, you can contact Sally Wilson on 01625 612958 or enquiries@ageukce.org. Older people who have been a victim of scams can also contact the project for advice and support.

Trustee Board appoint new CEO 

A new Chief Executive has taken over at Age UK Cheshire East following the departure of the previous incumbent who had been with the charity for the last six years. Lynne Elliot joins the charity as it looks to emerge from the pandemic and evolve its service offer so that it can support even more local older people as their needs change in the post pandemic world.
 
Lynne has spent most of her working life in the third sector and has been a charity Chief Executive for over 15 years.  During that time, she has supported a network for young people’s charities, run a rape crisis centre, led an organisation that worked with services users and their carers to take part in commissioning health and social care services, headed up a local Community and Voluntary Service that supported other groups and been a trustee of advocacy charity for people with learning disabilities.
Lynne comes to Age UK Cheshire East fresh from The Vegetarian Society, a national education charity, so no surprise to hear that she is vegetarian, loves cooking, is interested in nutrition and passionate about the planet.
Lynne says “A long time ago, one of my first jobs in the third sector was as a community worker at Bramley Elderly Action in Leeds and I love working with older people! My Mum is 90 and I find it really inspiring spending time with her and her friends because they are funny and wise and sometimes stubborn and quite opinionated but brave and full of life experience. 
 
Now they are older, some things are harder for them but basically, they just want to live the same life they always have – to do things they like, to be active and make their own choices and to enjoy fun and friendship.  Just like me, and probably you! I am really looking forward to helping older people in Cheshire East do all those things and I feel incredibly lucky to have been chosen for this role.”

Last month in numbers

September saw another busy month for our charity, supporting many older people across Cheshire East.  Below is just a flavour of some of the ways we have provided that support.
To find out more about any of our services, please vist our services page on our website. Alternatively, you can call us on  01625 61258 or email enquiries@ageukce.org
We are looking for a new trustee with a financial background to join our Board. If this interests you, why not get in touch. The role profile can be found here
If you would like to learn more about these initiative, and want to be a part of supporting our cause, we'd love to hear from you!

Please call us on 01625 612958 or email ceo@ageukce.org

Further details are also available on our website
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About us…


Our aim is to improve the later life of the people of Cheshire East. We are a local, independent charity, providing a wide range of services to older people in Cheshire East. All the funds we generate are spent on delivering services locally.

The main focus of our work is:-
  • Support for people with dementia
  • Tackling loneliness
  • Free information & advice
  • Lifestyle support
  • Men in Sheds
  • Help in the Home
  • Campaigning & lobbying






Telephone : 01625 612958

Email : enquiries@ageukce.org
Age UK Cheshire East is the working name of Age Concern East Cheshire, which is a registered charity No. 1090161 and a company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 4309557. Registered Office: New Horizons Centre, Henderson Street, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 6RA.
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