Launch of Silver Line Scotland launched via Age Scotland

Launch of Silver Line Scotland

Silver Line Scotland launches today (25 November) for every older person who needs information, friendship, advice and protection from abuse or neglect. It is a free, confidential, 24-hour service and as well as the helpline, trained volunteers will become Silver Line Friends providing regular friendship calls. Silver Line Scotland is a partnership between Age Scotland and Esther Rantzen’s charity The Silver Line Helpline – which launches across the UK today.

As someone with an interest in the health and wellbeing of older people in Scotland we wanted to explain how this service is going to work.

Silver Line Scotland’s aim is to assist older people to be happy and healthy, supporting them to live independently at home for as long as possible, and helping to overcome the barriers of isolation and loneliness.

Our  partnership with The Silver Line means that, via just one phone number – 0800 4 70 80 90 –  older people across Scotland can access both Age Scotland’s independent, confidential advice services along with the befriending services of The Silver Line.

From 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday, anyone calling 0800 4 70 80 90 from a Scottish landline will come through to Age Scotland’s Information and Advice team in Edinburgh. Our paid staff and volunteers specialise in answering enquiries from older people, their carers and families. Whether the question is about community care, tax, pensions, benefits or heating, they will find an answer. They will also be there for callers looking for a chat – this could be about what they’ve been doing, what’s important to them or even just what they’ve been watching on the television. It’s about making sure everyone has an opportunity to open up to someone and feel listened to and in touch.

The Information and Advice team can also be contacted by Textphone on 0845 226 5851(Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm). Telephone interpretation is also available.

During the night (8pm to 8am) and at weekends, calls made within Scotland will be answered at The Silver Line’s UK Headquarters. This means there is someone at the end of the line, ready to talk, 24 hours a day. And if at the end of the call it turns out that some information and advice from Age Scotland would also be useful, The Silver Line will pass this on and the Information and Advice team will get in touch as soon as they can.

If callers ringing for friendship would like to receive a regular phone call or email from a volunteer Silver Line Friend, this can be arranged too. Or there will be the option of joining a Silver Circle, to take part in regular conference calls on topics of personal interest. You’ll find more information about Silver Line Friends at www.thesilverline.org.uk.

The Silver Line’s UK-wide launch has been made possible by a grant from the Big Lottery Fund of £5million over two years. Age Scotland’s Information and Advice service is funded via charitable donations and support from the Scottish Government.

For those who would like to promote this service via their own channels, please emailpublications@agescotland.org.uk

Katrina Coutts

Communications & Marketing Manager

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/scotland/