Press Release 3

Age Concern Bolton is delighted to be supporting the following initiative:

Make sure older relatives and friends ‘Feel the Benefit’ this winter.

The Council is leading an exciting new campaign this winter for local older people. ‘Feel the Benefit’ is aimed at ensuring senior citizens in Bolton are made aware of the extra benefits they could be entitled to, and also gives some top tips on how to keep warm throughout the cold winter months.

These are big priorities for older people in Bolton’s Local Area Agreement with the Government. Working in partnership with a number of organisations, such as the Pensions Service and the Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, a new hotline number has also been set up: 01204 333365.

Calls are answered by a dedicated team at Access Bolton in the Town Hall, where friendly staff can give advice and issue the specially devised information packs, which contain everything from useful contact numbers to energy saving tips and the benefits available. 

The pack also features a thermometer, which has been designed to hang on a door handle so that the room temperature can be constantly monitored.

Look out for the campaign on buses, bookmarks, travel tickets and pharmacy bags along with articles and adverts in Bolton Scene and media coverage. Local older people helped to devise the publicity, which Adults Services has developed with the Communications and Marketing Agency to make the most of the Bolton family brand to get the message across.

Importantly, make sure you tell older relatives or friends about the campaign and get them to call, or even make a call for them on their behalf.

If you are a member of a local group or community organisation, could you help to spread the word? Please contact the Feel the benefit campaign number.

Feel the Benefit hotline: 01204 333 365 or e-mail olderpeoplebolton.gov.uk