Age Concern and Foreign Office set up the National Casework Service

Since September, the partnership project has been headed by Sarah Rogers, the Country Casework Manager, who works out of the British Embassy in Madrid and is currently "doing the rounds" of centres of British population to raise awareness of the project and to recruit volunteer caseworkers and sponsors for the scheme. She visited Menorca last week, giving a presentation at the Port Mahón Hotel on Tuesday to representatives of other organisations and associations on the island which have interests in common with Age Concern, such as the Royal British Legion and the Anglican Church. The following day she attended an informal lunch with the emphasis on fundraising for the project.

The National Casework Service is supported by about 70 volunteers who carry out assessments, two of these are based in Menorca. The service provided was previously run by Judy Arnold-Boakes, MBE, but the demand for help grew so great that the British Government was forced to step in and provide support, especially in the present economic climate when people are getting into dire situations. This they are doing through the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in partnership with Age Concern España and working closely with other government departments and NGO's.

Casework Process

All the caseworkers who carry out assessments of those socially or financially excluded in the community are volunteers who have been fully trained. Once a call is received advising that an elderly person is in distress, a caseworker is sent to their home to do an assessment and discover ways in which they can be helped, whether in sorting out their pension problems and any benefit entitlements (such as winter fuel allowance) or helping them socially through integration in the local community.

As well as liaising with other government departments, the Casework Service works closely with other charities, whether military, teaching or civil service, to find if any help might be forthcoming from these sources for any elderly British who are experiencing either financial or social problems.

President to retire in June

Established in 1994, Age Concern España is a national Federation providing specialist information and advice to British people over 50 in Spain. There are currently five branches in the country; Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza, Estepona (Malaga, Costa del Sol) and Torrevieja (Alicante, Costa Blanca), in addition to a nationwide telephone information service.

Age Concern Menorca supports people in many different ways, such as providing information, helping with visits to the doctor or hospital through its team of translators, and, on a more general level, the loan of medical equipment.

For the last six years, Alan Bailey has been the President of the local branch, during which time he has seen the Age Concern charity shop grow in stature and quality and the opening of the association's office in Sant Climent.

He has now decided that it is time for him to retire and let someone else with new ideas take over the reins and will stand down at June's A.G.M.