Age UK needs your help to support older people during the coronavirus outbreak. We are seeing unprecedented demand for our services and expect this to continue to grow over the coming weeks and months. We are working hard to ensure our vital information, advice and befriending services can continue to safely help the older people who are reaching out to us during these deeply worrying times.

This is a time of great anxiety for everyone, but especially for older people and their loved ones. Age UK is determined to be there for older people who need our help and especially for those who have no one else to turn to. By donating to Age UK, you will help us to reach the older people that need us most.

With the Governments recommendations on social distancing, particularly for those aged 70+, our national and local telephone and digital services have never been more in demand. In communities across the UK, older people are relying on the life-line that is local Age UKs to provide both practical support with food supplies and much more.

Your donation could be used help us to:

- Meet the growing demand of calls to our Advice Line - which are already 30% up and expected to rise - so that we can provide expert advice and support to all older people, their carers and families who need our help.

- Continue to provide our crucial friendship services, through our befriending calls and our 24-hour Helpline, enabling us to provide comfort and reassurance to older people facing long periods of isolation.

- Provide additional funds to our network of local Age UKs in over 130 communities to help them provide local telephone support and friendship, and practical help with food parcels to ensure that vulnerable older people stay well.

Of course if we find that the needs of older people change during this emergency we will apply any money raised to where the needs are greatest.

Without your donation we face the reality of not being able to be there for all the vulnerable older people across the UK who are turning to us for help. Every pound counts and here are some things that your kind donation could support.

- £10 could enable a local Age UK to deliver services within communities such as a food parcel to an isolated older person.

- £15 could pay to answer three calls to our advice line from vulnerable older people needing information and support on how to cope during this crisis.

- £20 could pay for two weekly befriending calls to self-isolated older people who have no one to turn to.

Age UK is a registered charity, registered charity no 1128267. Age UK will be raising funds on behalf of itself and local Age UKs who are also registered charities and The Silver Line Help Line which is also a charity.

Although it is Age UKs aim to raise at least £10 million, if this target cannot be met the funds raised during this emergency appeal will still be disbursed for the purposes listed in this appeal; wherever the need is greatest.

If we find that the needs of older people change during this emergency or we raise more than £10 million we will apply any money raised to where the needs are greatest.