Event title: Penny the Piggy bank visits Shropshire on Age UK tour
Venue: See Content for details
Weblink: www.ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk
Name: Age UK
Email: enquiries@ageukstw.org.uk
Telephone: 01743 233 123
Event description: Age UK’s ‘Penny the inflatable Piggy Bank’ is coming to Shropshire to highlight the urgent need for more funding for social care.
The latest data suggests 1.4m older people in the UK go without the care and support they need. And this social care crisis is costing the NHS over £500 per minute. ‘Penny’ has been visiting towns across England in a bid to bring attention to the need for the Government to provide more funding.
The bright pink inflatable pig will be coming to:
- The Square in Shrewsbury on Wednesday 22nd August and
- Telford Shopping Centre on Thursday 23rd August.
Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, said: “The Government is expected to publish proposals about the future funding of social care by Christmas, but it could take years for any practical solutions to have a positive impact on the lives on older people. Our concern is the immediate challenges that older people experience. On a daily basis we hear about the struggles older people face with inadequate funding to support care provision when they return home from hospital, and as a result we are seeing a greater demand for our services.
Heather added: “We are well aware the number of people over the age of 65 is set to rise in Shropshire higher than the national average. Social care is one of the most important and emotive issues for us all and with an ageing population the Chancellor must announce a major three year funding deal to keep social care going as part of his Autumn Budget.”
The general public are invited to meet ‘Penny the Piggy Bank’ on 22nd and 23rd August to find out more about the campaign, including an opportunity to share their views and send them directly to Shropshire’s MPs. For further information visit www.ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk or follow Penny by using the hashtag #WhereisPenny?