Age UK

Age Concern

Age Concern's origins can be traced back to a realisation in Britain of the effects on aged people of the Second World War; the dislocation and breakdown of family life arising from conscription led to a recognition that existing poor laws failed to provide effective support for the elderly separated from family support networks.

In 1940, the Old People's Welfare Committee (OPWC), chaired by Eleanor Rathbone, was formed as a sub-committee of Liverpool Personal Service Society to facilitate discussion among government and voluntary organisations. In 1944, the committee changed its name to the National Old People’s Welfare Committee (NOPWC) and took on responsibility for coordinating the activities of numerous local OPWCs.

From the 1950s, the NOPWC accessed government and local funds associated with the post-war development of the welfare state to provide services to local committees and training to wardens of old people's homes.

In 1971, under the direction of David Hobman, the NOPWC changed its public name to Age Concern and separated itself entirely from government and the National Council for Social Service (now National Council for Voluntary Organisations). It did so while also launching a "manifesto for old age" and establishing itself nationally as a lobbying body.

The directors of Age Concern England have included Hobman, Sally Greengross, and Gordon Lishman.

In 1986, Age Concern established an Institute of Gerontology at King's College London, into which it folded its own Age Concern Research Unit.

Help the Aged

Help the Aged was founded in 1961 by Cecil Jackson-Cole, with the aim to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

The two brand logos from the merged charities gradually disappeared after the new Age UK brand was launched (on 19 April 2010) and new brand-awareness developed during 2010. Hollywood stars Eleanor Bron, Brian Cox and Ian McKellen appeared in a series of TV advertisements to support the new charity.

Criticism

In 2016, Age UK was criticised for recommending an energy tariff through a partnership with E.On. The Sun claimed Age UK’s Enterprises division was overcharging customers signing up to a E.ON/Age Concern gas and electricity tariff marketed to older customers. It emerged that Age UK had made millions by providing insurance and funeral services to older people via Age UK Enterprises Ltd.

In 2019, it was claimed that Age UK was sending users through its commercial arm (Age Co) to an equity release advice service provided by Hub Financial, a company wholly owned by Just Group. While customers were told that Hub compared deals from a panel of five providers, its advice process was structured so that in most cases a customer would be offered a deal by just one panel member, namely Just.