AWOC has been supporting people ageing without children for over 10 years, not only through its local groups but by raising awareness of the added pressures that people face when they are ageing without family support.

We know that adult children provide help in many different ways: for example, low-level support tasks such as accompanying a parent to medical appointments, helping with cleaning and shopping and reminding their parent to take medication. Many help their parents research and access care when it is needed, choosing and mediating with providers, and making complaints when necessary. Some also help with personal care tasks, such as changing dressings to high-level support looking after their parent’s finances, and even being their part-time or full time carer. Others living at a distance often struggle with the challenges of caring for a parent remotely.

Without this help people ageing without children face legal, mental and physical health, and financial battles to even get by in later life.

We want to change that.

We've recently reviewed our strategy, and for the next five years we want to grow the charity so that we can support more AWOCs, and work with government, businesses and charities at all levels to raise awareness of AWOCs and how they can support them in ageing well.

At the moment we rely on donations, so to help kick start this new era for AWOC I will be doing the Super Sprint Triathlon at the Chateau de Chantilly race series. This is a 400m swim, a 20K bike ride and then a 4K run - and I've never done one of these before!

Your sponsorship will help AWOC grow, and support people ageing without children to age well!

Thank you!

Paul Goulden