After a ‘challenging year’ Age Concern Isle of Man chief executive George Quayle says the charity is facing 2012 with ‘quiet optimism’. Mr Quayle was speaking at the charity’s AGM during which he outlined the rebranding process scheduled for early in 2012 when ‘Age Concern Isle of Man’ would become ‘Age Isle of Man’ in line with its UK opposite number, now known as Age UK. He explained: ‘For our clients there will be no discernible changes to how we operate. We shall continue to maintain our independence and all monies raised in the Island will stay in the Island to help improve the quality of life for older people.’ In a brief overview of the services the charity provided Mr Quayle said he was ‘immensely impressed’ by the dedication of the staff at the charity’s five day care centres and announced that, in partnership with the Isle of Man Residential Homes Association, the operation at the Meadow View, Onchan and Cummal Mooar, Ramsey centres would be expanding in the new year to provide more places for a service increasingly in demand. The Meals on Wheels service the charity facilitates in partnership with the Department of Social Care, now providing in the region of 75,000 meals a year, was continuing to serve as a lifeline for many elderly and isolated people. Additionally the Lifelong Learning computer centres, which received some 40,000 visitors during 2011, was seen as a ‘growth area’, said Mr Quayle, who added that findings by Age UK had revealed that increased computer literacy was leading to a rise in online dating among the older generation. The CHAT (Community, Health Advice and Training) bus was ‘highly valued’ and helping end isolation in outlying communities, while the advice and information service had been hailed by Age UK as a ‘flagship’ offering. The Energy Doctor service delivered by Age Concern Isle of Man in partnership with the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) that offers practical energy conservation advice to consumers had generated potential savings of some ?500,000 in 2011, and Number 73, the charity’s second-hand furniture outlet in Circular Road, together with Age Concern’s shops in Ramsey and Port Erin were flourishing, thanks to the dedication of its volunteers, which prompted Mr Quayle to issue a plea for more helpers. Fundraising remains central to the charity’s ability to provide services to older people in the Isle of Man and, during 2011 thanks to a programme of fewer but more ambitious events, ?30,000 had been raised. A high-profile event had been the ‘Leap of Faith’ abseil down a cliff face at Maughold Head where, among the participants, was Age Concern’s patron, the Bishop of Sodor of Man, the Rt Rev Robert Paterson who attended the AGM and said it was ‘an enormous privilege’ to have been invited to assume the role. Concluding Mr Quayle said Age Concern Isle of Man had come through 2011 well, was ‘alive and flourishing’ and ‘in a good place’ to continue to serve the Island’s older generation. ENDS