Our Roots

Agewell was established in 1997 by a small group of volunteers in Sandwell, West Midlands.

We were originally an initiative within the NHS funded by Sandwell Primary Care Trust. We built up a reputation as a trusted voice for older people, challenging the way health and social care services were commissioned and delivered, ensuring older people themselves were involved in the decision making process and listened to at an early stage. And it worked!

Our members represented the views of older people at a strategic level, sitting on various boards and committees for all sorts of issues affecting older people’s quality of life including equality and diversity, safeguarding, mental health, community safety and safety at home, housing, health, transport and many more.

A new era began in April 2013, when we left the NHS to become a social enterprise for older people. Being an independent organisation gave us more opportunities to expand our areas of expertise and introduce new services.

Our structure as a Community Interest Company (CIC) means that any surplus money generated as a result of our business activities is reinvested to benefit older people, rather than distributed amongst shareholders.

Funding is a key issue for us, as the majority of our services are provided as a result of funding secured from local, regional and national commissioners, including Sandwell Council, Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust and the National Lottery.

We are constantly looking for new sources of funding to maintain existing services and introduce new ones. We are also actively looking for new volunteers and partners to work with us.

Together we can make a lasting difference to the lives of even more older people.

Dates for your Diary

Please call 0121 796 9333 for dates and times of our Agewell Forums. 

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