Age UK Isle of Wight has announced an upcoming move to St Thomas House in St Thomas’ Square, as part of a shift towards a more community-focused approach. The charity has undertaken a significant review of its current office building and found that it no longer meets its needs in terms of accessibility, cost and functionality. The charity is currently based at St Thomas’ Chambers on Newport High Street. The building has no designated parking for clients and due to its listed status, cannot be renovated to become more accessible. The charity has substantially increased its number of community-based workers since the COVID-19 pandemic, when many organisations began operating in a new way. With a reduced number of office-based staff, the charity’s main priority is meeting clients in the locations where they reside, or at nearby locations, making their services more accessible and visible. The new space in St Thomas’ Square will primarily serve for back-office functions, with meeting rooms available when necessary. The charity explains:
“Our main priority is meeting those we serve in the communities where they reside, at accessible locations that are convenient for them. The move will mean our offices are a more cost-effective space than our current location. It will allow us to refocus our funds into serving the community in the best way possible way.”
In preparation for the move, Age UK Isle of Wight has been actively seeking out Island locations for regular community drop-ins, hubs, and event attendance. The charity can now be found at County Hall three days a week, as well as at Parkland’s Café every Friday morning. Additionally, they have a team stationed at St Mary’s, supporting older people where it is most needed. Age UK Isle of Wight’s presence extends to libraries, where they offer digital support, as well as regular community attendance in locations in Ventnor and Mountbatten. The charity is committed to finding more locations across the Island to reach those who need their services. The charity also hosts monthly gatherings at various Island locations called Chatty Brews, which are free to attend and serve as a social event and a drop-in session. The charity aims to have completed the move by October 2024.
I hope they can afford to keep the heating on. I can see a lot of pensioners having to shelter there in the winter thanks to the wonderful socialist, two tier government.
The Labour Government are penalising poor pensioners
Sod the old look what they get up too attempted murder, exposing themselves, hurting innocent people on the roads
It must really be quite an effort to bash out rubbish on your cheap phone using your fists. It must look like a monkey having a Jodrell….