AGE Concern has been awarded £1,000 as part of Lloyds TSB's Small Change – Big Difference campaign.

The campaign ran throughout 2010 and saw Lloyds TSB make four £1,000 donations to community groups that displayed a notable commitment to supporting life in the Island.

Carole Male, business development consultant at Age Concern, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the £1,000 grant from Lloyds TSB. Any funding we receive is so valuable to the service we provide and enables Age Concern to continue offering support it offers to residents over 50 in the Isle of Man."

Age Concern has operated in the Island for 18 years and supports 20,000 clients each year in its five day centers. The charity also provides 75,000 meals through the Meals on Wheels service each year and trains 600 people per month at its computer drop-in centers.

The £1,000 grant will go towards sponsoring the CHAT (Community, Health, Advice and Training) bus for one month.

This was launched in April last year and drives around the Island serving as a mobile meeting space where older people can socialise over a cup of tea.

Lucy Felton, business development manager for Lloyds TSB said: "When we launched the Small Change – Big Difference campaign we were looking for local organisations that provide essential services on the Isle of Man and that would really benefit from a relatively small sum of money.
 
"Age Concern is a vital part of the Isle of Man, helping older residents to maintain a link with the local community, receiving support where needed and a friendly face to chat to."

The other charities awarded grants were Kemmyrk, Friends of Robert Owen House and Cruse Bereavement Care.

Picture caption: L to R - Carole Male, business development consultant at Age Concern, Drew Hill, CHAT bus driver and host, George Quayle, chief executive of Age Concern and Lucy Felton, development manager at Lloyds TSB.