01/10/2025
Today is International Day of Older People 🌍✨ – a time to celebrate the incredible contributions older people make to our families, workplaces, and communities.
For Ann Donkin, Chief Executive of Age UK Norfolk, it’s also a reminder of the challenges many still face:
👉 Feeling invisible
👉 Battling stereotypes
👉 Being underestimated
“I’m still the same person I was before I had grey hair and wrinkles – full of wisdom, fun, and life experience. Yet too often I feel invisible, stereotyped, or patronised. My plea is simple: see the person, not the age.” – Ann Donkin
Far from slowing down, older people remain at the heart of Norfolk life. Many volunteer, care for loved ones, share skills at work, and offer vital support as neighbours and friends. Norfolk would look very different without them – as Ann says: “their contribution is what keeps our county thriving.”
At Age UK Norfolk, older people are not just celebrated – they’re supported. Every day, our charity helps those facing loneliness, isolation, and financial struggles. Our volunteers and staff provide advice, benefit checks, befriending, and community activities, ensuring older people can live well and continue contributing to society.
✨ Ann’s message is clear: “Respect and value everyone, whatever their age.”
🙌 Want to help make Norfolk a great place to grow older? The answer is simple: Volunteer with Age UK Norfolk. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/norfolk/get-involved/volunteer/
