# BBC Radio 4 appeal generates donations and volunteers for elderly charity

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/06/04/bbc-radio-4-appeal-generates-donations-and-volunteers-elderly-charity/
- Published: 2003-06-04T23:00:00+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

National charity, Contact the Elderly, has reported a significant response to its
BBC Radio 4 appeal, broadcast in May this year.
The appeal, presented by actor Maureen
Lipman, has brought in over £5,000 in donations and has received nearly 100 enquiries
for more information on how to become a volunteer for the charity.

The script for the appeal raised concerns about Britain’s hidden elderly – the one
million old people who suffer feelings of isolation and loneliness. It also highlighted
that elderly people are in the highest risk group for suicide and are twice as likely
to kill themselves as young people.

Monica Hartwell, director of Contact the Elderly, said: “We operate a very lean,
volunteer-led organisation and the money raised by Radio 4 listeners will have a
significant impact for us. Our message about what we do and our need for volunteers
obviously came through very clearly, in spite of the traditional appeal for donations
being the main focus of the ask.”

## Advertisement

The BBC appeal forms part of Contact the Elderly’s ‘Circle of Friends’ campaign 
aimed at faith and community groups. The charity is targeting community and faith
leaders, initially in the North West of England, and asking them, through their 
congregation, to become more actively involved in volunteering to support elderly,
isolated people in their community. An integrated marketing, PR and advertising 
strategy has been developed by Cascaid Marketing and Contact the Elderly hopes to
roll out the campaign at a national level.

 * **[New toner recycling Web site to fundraise for three charities](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/06/12/new-toner-recycling-web-site-fundraise-three-charities/)**(
   12 June 2003)
 * **[WaterAid to launch online fundraising toolkit](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/06/19/wateraid-launch-online-fundraising-toolkit/)**(
   19 June 2003)
 * **[Noddy fundraiser in trouble over intellectual property](https://fundraising.co.uk/2003/07/09/noddy-fundraiser-trouble-over-intellectual-property/)**(
   9 July 2003)