After the success of fairs, similar to a Freshers Fair for older people, across her constituency last year, on Tuesday 10th May, Tracey Crouch MP was joined by lots of organisations, local Councilllors and local residents for her third Pensioners Advice and Information Fair, held between 10am and 2pm at the TA Centre in Ditton, continuing these events into a second year!
Tracey invited all pensioners, their families, friends and carers to attend this free event which shared information and advice about the local services, support and activities available to help older people live well.
There were over 60 organisations who had a stall at this event, including Health and Care Services, Arriva, Kent Fire & Rescue & Kent Police, gardening groups, Citizens & Pensions Advice, volunteering opportunities, Internet Cafes, Bowls and other sports & leisure groups, ‘tools with a mission’, Charities and many more! Tea, coffee and biscuits were also available to all visitors, thanks to local Councillors who supported the event too.
Local Ditton Councillor, Ben Walker, said, “It is vital that our pensioners are aware of all the different support that is available to them. The brilliant turnout demonstrates how valuable these events are for our local community.”
Recognising that with a little extra support older people can live well and provide an outstanding contribution to the community, Tracey is committed to taking a proactive approach.
Tracey said, “Yet again for the second year I am overwhelmed with the turnout for my Pensioners Fair. Not only did we have over 60 stalls but more than 400 people visited the Fair throughout the day. The event was all arranged through goodwill and through kind donations for refreshments we raised a few hefty tins for SSAFA Kent.
My heartfelt thanks to all those who came to support this event again and the wonderful team who helped set it all up and ensure that it ran smoothly. I am also so grateful to the TA who let us use the TA Centre and supported the smooth running of the event. I will hopefully be putting on another similar event in Medway again this summer.”
A local Ditton resident who attended the fair to support some of the exhibitors, Ron Edwards, 89, said “These fairs are a lifeline to people like me. I have mobility issues and I am therefore housebound most of the time. This event is spectacular as I had to piece together a lot of information about what help I could get but now I have befrienders and phone calls to help me not get lonely. I am so thrilled that this event is happening in our local community to help others find out all about how they can find help to address the difficulties that arise when you get older! I think everyone should do them!”
All pictures from the event can be found on my facebook here.