Age Concern: Sisters Pensioners Are Doin' It For Themselves!

It seems the fakecharity Age Concern has decided to register it's displeasure at being forcibly removed from the public teat in Barking and Dagenham.

Brian Devlin, on behalf of the Chairman and Trustees of the Board, has written a letter to the local paper (go to page 25):

"We are saddened that an elected leader of the council (Ed: Bad move, Devlin, someone might ask who elected YOU and your mob...) can make a statement that is full of glaring ommissions and inaccuracies. Cllr Smith clearly has his facts wrong when it comes to the funding of the active age centres...We are concerned that the loss of these services will worry hundreds of older people and their families who rely on our day care, home from hospital and other services we provide. Assurances from the council that there will be new services cannot replace the trust Age Concern's staff have built up over the years with older people."

Oh, noes! Won't someone think of the children! elderly!

But wait. What's this?

Directly under Devlin's letter is another, this one from Harry Pigott, of the Manor Club:

"Age Concern blame the Council and the current recession, but they have been closing down the Active Age Centres for a number of years, so much for looking after the 'vulnerable older people'.

When they walked out on 75 pensioners at the Manor Club in Neasham Road in 2008, the members decided to keep the club open themselves. With the help of the Council, local councillors and the Community Association, we have never been so well off.

Perhaps Age Concern would have been better off looking after the sailing boats in a local park, but I suppose with their track record they would have sunk those as well."

Ouch! Oh, dear, the trust isn't really coming through in that letter, is it Devlin?

Could it be that the elderly in Barking and Dagenham have discovered that, rather than pay Age Concern for services that they may decide to whip away at any moment, it is easier and much more satisfying to get together and run things for themselves?

Good for them!