We asked some of our local Third Sector organisations to give us an insight into how this strange year had been for the them, and what their plans were for 2021. We also wanted to know how York people might be able to support them. Here’s what Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY) had to say. 

Well what a year 2020 has been for everyone. Tricky to say the least.

We have been working from home since the first lockdown started back in March and have been providing support over the phone and by post, since then too.

What we all thought was going to be a brief lockdown has now become ‘normal’.

We are really pleased that we have managed to continue delivering our service to older people in York throughout this period. Staff and volunteers have been amazing in their ability to work from home and continue to provide advocacy support.

We have had some challenges around technology and supporting people to complete online forms over the phone, we have had some interesting drop offs for verifying identification or picking up paperwork, but the good news is that they have all worked. So, we continue in the same flexible way, adapting to changing circumstances and working in this way for the foreseeable future.

In 2021, we hope to be able to resume face-to-face meetings with our clients, and for staff and volunteers to be able to get back to working in the office when time allows us and when it is safe to do so.

We want OCAY to be a safe environment for all our clients, staff and volunteers and we will put in place every required measurement, ready for when office working and face-to-face meetings can resume.

We want to continue our work in making our service to older people the best that it can be. We are also hoping to be able to get back to community fundraising and outreach work, as this has had to be put on hold this year.

If you know or hear from anyone over the age of 50 that is in need of some free, confidential advocacy support, then please put them in touch with us.

You can get in touch with OCAY via their website or call them directly:

Ruth Potter, Charity Manager: 07715099498
Dan Brittan, Lead Advocate: 07715099500