Our Work
For Care HomesMobilising an army of volunteers to befriend care home residents
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For ChurchesEquipping churches in their ministry amongst older people
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For CarersProviding opportunities for carers to chat and pray together
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Where we operate
National Outreach - Embracing Age operates across the UK
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Encouraging and supporting churches to adopt their local care home, and equipping them in their ministry amongst older people.
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Carers Connected - supporting informal carers, including weekly zoom gatherings to chat and pray with other carers.
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Regional projects
We also have regional areas where our Project Co-ordinators mobilise volunteers to bring joy and companionship to care home residents across those areas - currently Richmond upon Thames, the Isle of Wight, Hampshire and West Sussex. Click on an image to visit that area's page.
If you know an older care home resident who would like to receive visits from a trained volunteer, please visit our referrals page to find out how we may be able to help connect them.
If you know an older care home resident who would like to receive visits from a trained volunteer, please visit our referrals page to find out how we may be able to help connect them.
OUR VALUES
Our values are the key principles that guide our decision making and actions.
They're a golden thread that run through all we do.
They're a golden thread that run through all we do.
Underpinning all that we do is an awareness of God’s unconditional love towards each of us and the people we are serving. Love encompasses many attributes, including compassion, kindness and humility.
We love to work in partnership with other organisations operating in a similar sphere, and value the input and wise counsel of all our stakeholders. |
In all that we do we seek to act with transparency and honesty, stewarding well the resources entrusted to us.
We love to pioneer fresh initiatives that will benefit and empower older generations.
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THE STAFF TEAM
Rebecca SavageIsle of Wight Co-ordinator
Rebecca's passionate about bringing people together in the community. She believes it's vital to show the older generations they are still valued and loved. Rebecca, who loves floristry, was born on the Island and lives there with her husband where they attend True Vine Church. They both have a love of the outdoors and the Island offers many opportunities to enjoy.
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Zoe JonesHampshire Co-ordinator
Zoe's been working in a care home environment for the last few years and seen the difference it makes when residents feel valued and connected, and what a positive impact this has on their health and wellbeing. She lives near Southampton and enjoys music, craft, walking and photography. She's very excited to be pioneering the work of Embracing Age in Hampshire.
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Shabnum KramerRichmond Co-ordinator
Shabum is deeply committed to serving God through compassion ministry, which has shaped her career and personal values. She has a big heart for older people and vulnerable communities and is keen for them to feel valued, connected and loved.
She enjoys walking her dog, gardening and spending time hosting dinner parties with friends and family. |
Jane PrestonWest Sussex Co-ordinator
Jane has always had a heart for supporting older people and understands the challenges for local communities and care homes through her family’s experience. She's passionate about bringing God’s compassion to older people by linking care home residents with befrienders and churches. Jane recently moved to Sussex with her husband and loves spending time with family, travelling and crafts.
Jane mainly works with care homes and volunteers based in the eastern part of West Sussex. |
Julie PassmoreWest Sussex Co-ordinator
Julie has a background of running church community projects and has seen the difference it makes to people’s mental health when they no longer feel isolated or alone. She has a heart for older people and knows that care home befrienders can have a big impact on the lives of residents. She loves walking and cooking, and lives on the South Coast with her husband.
Julie mainly works with care homes and volunteers based in the western part of West Sussex. |
Sarah SmithCarers Connected Co-ordinator
Sarah runs the weekly zoom gatherings, as well as developing the initiative nationwide. She is familiar with the challenges faced by carers having looked after her father in the past, and now her mother, both with Alzheimer’s. Sarah is passionate to show God’s love and compassion to others. She lives with her husband and two cats in Gloucestershire, and loves walking and being outdoors, particularly on the Suffolk coast where her parents were raised.
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June MorellOperations Manager
June is passionate about people and manages some of the team, supporting and empowering them in their roles. She recently moved back to the Isle of Wight and enjoys coastal walks with her dog, being creative, reading a good book, cooking and baking, gardens and flower arranging. June attends All Saints church which is pioneering a new expression of worship in a contemporary style, along with the existing traditional services.
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Paul CrowtherChurches Co-ordinator
Paul connects with churches who want to be supported by Embracing Age. He was involved in church leadership for over 20 years and lives on the Wirral with his wife and three boys. He loves to support local church ministry and is available to talk to any church, group or individual who would like to explore developing their ministry through linking up with Embracing Age. He's an experienced preacher and can be booked as a visiting speaker.
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Amanda ClothierProject Administrator
Amanda provides administration support to our projects. She's worked in a busy doctor’s surgery as a receptionist and administrator, with a real desire to show God's love through caring and looking after people. Amanda and her husband have a passion for the environment and live in Aldershot with their two young children; they love exploring the local countryside together. She also enjoys swimming, history, cooking and sudoku puzzles!
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Sarah WallerImpact & Comms Manager
Sarah grew up in a clergy family and has a passion for befriending, anyone that may be feeling isolated. She deeply respects older generations and believes that it's vital for communities to reach out to people that might otherwise have limited companionship. She deals with all things Comms, measuring the difference we're making and anything else that's thrown at her! Sarah lives in Twickenham with her husband and three daughters.
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Sinéad CrosbieCEO
Sinéad is passionate about working with older people and dedicated to supporting them to enjoy later life. With professional experience at Age UK and Citizens Advice, alongside lived experience of supporting her mum with Alzheimer's, she brings both personal understanding and practical expertise. She has also completed her Level 3 British Sign Language (BSL) course and is deeply committed to being inclusive, particularly within the deaf community. She lives in Oxted and enjoys long woodland walks with her dog.
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OUR TRUSTEES
Tim Blair - Chair |
Tim worked for many years as a Company Secretary in the City and, more recently, was the driving force behind a project to build a new children’s hospice in south London for a well-established regional charity. He came to know about Embracing Age through his wife, Jude, who is an Embracing Age care home befriender in Hampton. He is passionate about the need to make a difference in the lives of frail, lonely and isolated older people often living with complex conditions and those with no remaining living relatives.
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Tina English
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Tina trained as a nurse many years ago and specialised in the care of older people. Following a career break to raise three children she worked in the third sector for local charities supporting older people, setting up projects for the lonely and isolated. She's completed a Masters Degree in Charity Management. Her Christian faith, coupled with a big heart for the older generation inspired her to establish Embracing Age.
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Karen Block |
Karen was brought up in Richmond and lives in the borough with her husband. Their two daughters are at university and home is shared with three generations of family and occasionally friends. She is a committed member of Holy Trinity Richmond and works for a Christian publisher that supports charitable projects in the UK and overseas. Karen has a real heart for older people and the value they bring to community and family life.
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Fiona Costa |
Dr Fiona Costa originally trained at the Royal College of Music. Her lifelong interest in music, together with a calling to a ministry with older people, has led to a range of different initiatives and interests. Underpinning them all is a desire to address the loneliness and isolation so often experienced in older people. As a research fellow at the University of Roehampton, her principal research interest is the effect of music on the wellbeing and quality of life of older people. Her PhD and subsequent research projects have studied how music can alleviate pain, stress, anxiety and depression. Her most recent work focuses on the use of music to assist in maintaining memory and the ability to communicate in people with dementia. She has contributed to a number of academic journals. Fiona is also a trustee of the Amber Trust, a charity that provides musical opportunities for blind or partially sighted children and young people and a member of the Lambeth Partnership, which supports the personal priorities of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
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Roderick Day
Treasurer |
Rod is a qualified accountant and has worked as a finance director for a number of different companies during his career. This has included retail, on-line and the provision of social housing. He is passionate about the activities of Embracing Age having seen the benefits of high quality community care first hand.
Rod lives in Putney with his wife Clare, two dogs and two cats. |
João Paulo Henrich Tavares |
Joao is Brazilian, and has lived in London for more than 10 years. He works in fundraising at Pancreatic Cancer UK, and previously has been part of the team at Christian Aid, Marie Curie, and marketing and advertising agencies in Brazil and Portugal. Joao deeply believes in the difference a community can make in someone’s life and the importance of being connected, and this is even stronger for older people.
Joao lives in Ham, Richmond, with his German wife and their two children, and loves going for walks and a good cup of coffee. |
OUR AMBASSADORS
Our ambassadors love what we do and like to shout out about our work
Amy Faith Morley |
John Flanner MBE |
Lady Sally Grylls |
Could you be an ambassador for Embracing Age?
Reg. Charity No. 1160400
© 2024 Embracing Age
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