MEMBERS of the public are being urged to support a charity which provides vital services for the town’s elderly.

Age Concern Swindon is preparing to transfer over many of its services to other organisations by the start of the next financial year because its funding pot is running out.

But the charity says it is determined to maintain its presence in the town.

Jo Osorio, the director of Age Concern Swindon, said: “All of our services will be affected and our intention is to maintain all of them. They will be provided by another organisation in order to maintain an Age Concern presence.

“We are talking about services like our benefit advice, benefit services and our elderly befriending service.

“This has come about because of two things.

“Over a number of years we have had to use our reserves to in order to provide our services.

“And because of the level of our reserves, the council reduced our grant aid.

“In addition to that we also have to pay our share of the deficit on the Age Concern retirement benefit scheme.

“Although the Age Concern services will be provided by different organisations they will still come under the Age Concern Swindon name.

“We simply cannot afford for there not to be an Age Concern presence in Swindon, that is why it is important people support us now financially and practically so we get to that point.”

The changes to Age Concern will take affect by March 31 next year and will be outlined to staff and volunteers during this week and then at the charity’s annual meeting on Friday, October 3.

Derek Benfield, the charity’s chairman, said trustees had agonised over transferring its services for the last six months.

He said: “We are now in discussion with our staff, with Swindon Borough Council and the primary care trust, with our other major supporters and stakeholders and, of course, with other service providers.

“There is much to be negotiated but we very much hope we will be able to effect the change during the next six months so that we do not let down the thousands of older people who rely on us each year for information, advice and practical help.”

Age Concern Swindon will be holding fundraising events at the three-day Swindon Garden Show, which starts on Friday at Stanton Park and the Great Sunday Lunch on October 19.

Donations and offers of support should be made to Age Concern Swindon, Number One Milton Road, SN1 5JE or online at http://www.justgiving.com/ageconcernswindon.

Information, advice and practical help continues to be available from the organisation’s offices from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday. Call 01793 692166 or email swindon@ageconcernswindon.org.uk.

The charity’s AGM will take place at 2pm on Friday, October 3 at the Pilgrim Centre, Regent Circus.

The guest speaker will be Gordon Lishman, the director general of Age Concern England.