Age Concern Scotland and Help the Aged in Scotland Announce Merger

07 April 2009

Chief Executive and new Chair of Trustees appointed

A new Charity combining over 100 years of experience working with and for older people in Scotland has come into being with the merger of Age Concern Scotland and Help the Aged in Scotland.

Across the United Kingdom, national Age Concerns have merged with Help the Aged and, with work on a new name and brand already well underway, announcements are expected regarding what these new merged charities will be called later in the year.

In the interim, in Scotland it will operate under the joint name of:

Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland

Chief Executive of the new Charity, David Manion says: "This is a momentous move, not just for the two charities but also for Scotland's older people. In uniting, we combine over a century's worth of expertise and practice and together we will put that knowledge and experience to work for older people across Scotland and the United Kingdom as well as internationally.

"The next step is to appoint a strong team of Directors from within the senior management teams of both the charities with the new focus on delivering better results for older people. Each Director will have a key role to play in developing Age Concern and Help the Aged in Scotland as a new organisation, leading on transforming older people's lives through policies, campaigns, products and influencing;  ensuring at all times we meet the needs and aspirations of today's and tomorrow's older people in Scotland."

Chairman of Trustees of the new organisation, Harry Cathcart says: "The Trustees are pleased to endorse David Manion as the Chief Executive of the new Charity and have every faith in his and his new team's ability to create a leading organisation in the Scottish charitable sector.  Our goal is to change lives while keeping costs to a minimum."

The new organisation will campaign and lobby on behalf of all Scotland's older people, provide information and advice to over 1 million people, commercial services with over 100,000 customers and operate 12 retail outlets across the country. 

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For further information, please contact:

Lindsay Scott - Communications Manager

0845 833 0200 / 07730 911 565

lindsay.scott@ageconcernandhelptheagedscotland.org.uk

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