Celebrating our unsung heroes
How do we best celebrate the work and contribution of older adults to our communities? Everyone is different, but it is important not to let the value people bring to society go unnoticed. To help say thank you to the unsung heroes in our communities, the first Sunday of October has been declared a national day of celebration of older people. It is an opportunity for people over the age of 65 to get involved in a huge range of activities, from museum tours to cycle rides, concerts to classes, and much, much more! It gives people a chance to try new things, share and learn new skills, meet new people and ultimately have a great time!! And it gives us an opportunity to share our thanks. Silver Sunday Led by The Sir Simon Milton Foundation, Silver Sunday is an annual day of fun and free activities for older people across the UK. It celebrates the value and knowledge they contribute to our communities while combating loneliness and isolation. Launched in response to findings that over a third of people over the age of 75 reported feeling lonely, Silver Sunday activities encourage people to meet their neighbours, visit new spaces, and make new connections. Saying thank you The work of charities across the country which support older people to keep or become active and engaged in their community is truly valuable. Sometimes one of the best ways to say thank you to charities who do this work is overlooked. But what better way than remembering such charities in your Will? Legacy donations give charities the opportunity to continue their work into the future, supporting people in their time of need, when they feel alone or isolated. By leaving a legacy, you can be sure that your gift will help support older adults to enjoy life, enabling people to live, not just exist. Charities working with older people help them to learn new skills, create opportunities to share knowledge, make new friends, keep fit and healthy, discover new talents, and to connect to resources in their communities. Silver Sunday is a fantastic way of highlighting the contribution of older people to society, providing an opportunity for people to find out more about all that is going on locally throughout the rest of the year. There are lots of organisations and charities across the country that work with older adults on a daily basis, providing support, activities, information and advice, volunteering opportunities and much more, and for them every day is Silver Sunday! What can you do to say thank you to charities working with older people? To find out more about charities supporting older adults, and leaving a charitable gift in a Will, click here. Catherine Pymar, Deputy Director, Open Age
