A volunteer-led charity that provides advocacy support to those aged over 50 in York, OCAY (Older Citizens Advocacy York), marked its 25th anniversary this summer, with a celebration attended by guests including Rachael Maskell MP.
Emerging from a 2001 “Better Government for Older People” pilot, OCAY provides a crucial service for local people. Penny Hutchinson, former Project Development Worker, observed: “Twenty-five years ago, the older people who founded OCAY set a bold course: to create an advocacy service that would stand independent, remain free, and earn the trust of those it served. Their greatest triumph is that through every challenge and every change, they never wavered from that original vision.”
OCAY provides much-needed advocacy support for local people facing financial hardship, complex bureaucracy, communication barriers, limited support networks, digital exclusion, or a lack of awareness of their legal entitlements. In praise of its important ongoing work, Maskell said: “OCAY’s reputation is impeccable, but its true measure is not found in accolades – it is found in the lives it changes.”
Call 01904 676 200 or email info@ocay.org.uk to get in touch. Visit www.oldercitizensadvocacyyork.org.uk to find out more, or www.localgiving.org/charity/ocay to donate.
Add a comment