Wilkin Chapman- An age Friendly Welcome Awaits

An age-friendly welcome awaits at Wilkin Chapman as firm’s Alford office is officially recognised by T.E.D.

The Alford office of the region’s largest law firm has become the organisation’s third Wolds premises to receive official age-friendly status.

Staff at the town’s Wilkin Chapman office in Market Place, are delighted to have been recognised as a T.E.D. Age-friendly Business. With their colleagues in Horncastle and Louth already receiving this recognition, it represents a hat-trick for the firm in the area.

Alford office Partner, Rupert Houltby, said: “We are extremely pleased that the work we have done, and continue to do, to make our services friendly and accessible to all has been recognised in this way.

“In East Lindsey, we have an aging population and it is vital that we are a business where people – whatever their age – are received with both warmth and understanding, and of course that our building is accessible.

“Simple things like installing a bell and sign on the front door for assistance and ensuring our leaflet displays are at the right height can make a big difference, along with offering home visits and being genuine in our willingness to help and offer advice,” he added.

T.E.D., Ageing Better in East Lindsey, is part of a National Lottery-funded programme, which looks at developing creative ways for older people to be actively involved in their local communities. The Age-friendly Business Award sees organisations judged on accessibility, customer comfort, marketing and communications, staff training and attitude.

Awards are given after discussions with business managers and owners, along with a mystery shop, with follow-up mystery visits.

The T.E.D. mystery shopper said of Wilkin Chapman’s Alford office: “Staff demonstrated a real understanding of the needs of older people, being empathetic, patient and friendly; showing a real interest in their customers’ needs.”

T.E.D. Programme Manager Guy Dewsbury said: “Local businesses are important to older people, which is why we are working throughout the area to raise awareness and encourage businesses to become Age-friendly.

“Older people make up a significant proportion of the population and are an important part of our economy – more than 26 per cent of East Lindsey residents are over the age of 65.

“For some people being able to access local services is becoming more and more difficult, and the T.E.D., programme is looking at how we can work together to increase opportunities, networks and confidence among older people,” added Guy.

• E.D. – Ageing Better in East Lindsey is part of the National Lottery funded Ageing Better programme set up by the Big Lottery Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK. Ageing Better aims to develop creative ways for older people to be actively involved in their local communities, helping to combat social isolation and loneliness. It is one of five major programmes set up by the Big Lottery Fund to test and learn from new approaches to designing services which aim to make people’s lives healthier and happier. www.tedineastlindsey.co.uk. The T.E.D. programme is managed by Community Lincs a charity, based in Sleaford, which works throughout Lincolnshire to make a positive difference to the lives of individuals and communities in the region www.communitylincs.com