We’re delighted to announce Age Concern Bracknell Forest as Bracknell BID’s official charity partner for 2026
A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to vote and be part of the nomination process. We’re excited to work alongside Age Concern Bracknell Forest over the year ahead and are proud to support the incredible work they do for people across our local community.
We recently caught up with Age Concern Bracknell Forest's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Eltham to learn more about the charity’s work, the challenges facing older people locally, and how businesses and residents can get involved.
Can you tell us about Age Concern Bracknell Forest and what you do?
Age Concern Bracknell Forest is an independent local charity based in Bracknell Forest, dedicated to enriching the lives of older people and strengthening the wider community. Each year, we support over 200 older adults and their families, including those living with dementia, by reducing isolation and promoting wellbeing.
Our work is delivered by a small but dedicated team of 10 mostly part-time staff, supported by a valued group of volunteers. Through our dementia-friendly Day Centre, carer support, social groups, lunch clubs and activities, we provide safe, welcoming spaces where older people can stay active, connected and supported, while also offering vital respite and guidance to families and carers.
Our mission is to ensure that older people feel valued, included and able to live well within their community.
Alongside our long-standing services, we also operate the Buckler’s Park Community Hub in Crowthorne. The Hub is a large, open and accessible community space designed to bring people together and support local life. It offers flexible space for local businesses, community support services, fitness and wellbeing activities, as well as employment and training opportunities through the building itself, the on-site café and nursery.
Since opening, the Hub has been key in reaching and engaging hundreds of local residents, creating a vibrant focal point that supports connection, opportunity and wellbeing for people of all ages across the area.
Our mission is simple: “Care that builds community, ending loneliness and isolation locally.”
What does being nominated as the official BID charity for 2026 mean to you and your team?
Being nominated as the official Bracknell BID charity partner means a great deal to our team. As a small, local organisation that is not funded by national or local authorities, we rely heavily on community awareness, partnerships and support to continue our work.
This nomination represents a valuable opportunity to extend our reach, helping more people to see who we are, understand the impact of our work, and feel confident in supporting us.
For our small team, who already do a great deal with limited resources, this recognition would provide encouragement, visibility and momentum. Increased exposure through Bracknell BID would help us reach more older adults and families who may need our support, as well as connect with local businesses and residents who share our commitment to strengthening the community.
Ultimately, being the BID charity would help us remain sustainable, continue delivering essential services, and ensure that some of the most vulnerable members of our community are not forgotten.
Can you share any success stories that show the difference your work makes?
There are so many success stories that highlight the difference our charity makes locally. Particularly post-pandemic, we’ve seen people who were once afraid to leave their homes or engage with others take a leap of faith to access our community provisions.
Through our groups, they’ve reconnected with old friends, made new ones and discovered neighbours just a few doors away. These connections often go beyond the sessions themselves, with people supporting one another and building friendships that enrich their lives.
Our community coach trips have been a sold-out success, our weekend lunch clubs regularly operate at full capacity, and our Harman’s Water community group has grown from just two members to more than 40 in two years.
At Buckler’s Park Community Hub, now open for a year, we’ve secured long-term tenants including our nursery and café, and offer a full programme of activities and wellbeing services. The Hub has become a vibrant space where people of all ages can gather, learn, socialise and access support.
Are there any key projects or events coming up that you’d like people to know about?
One of our biggest and most important projects is always our Day Centre, which provides vital support for people living with dementia. The centre operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, with each day including a two-course meal.
We currently have capacity and spaces available each day, and we are always looking to support more people who could benefit from the social interaction, activities and care our Day Centre provides.
In addition to our regular Day Centre provision, we offer a wide range of trips, outings and community activities. Planned trips for 2026 include a private viewing of the Windsor Castle estate. We are also launching a Friendship & Footsteps walking group on 4 February at Buckler’s Park in Crowthorne.
Our community groups continue to run fortnightly, alternating between Bullbrook Community Centre and St Paul’s Church in Harman’s Water. Trip information and pricing will be available on our website very soon.
How can businesses in the BID area get involved or support your work?
Local businesses can support our work in many meaningful ways. Funding is always the biggest challenge for a small charity like ours, so any financial support - whether a one-off donation, a percentage of profits, a fundraising event such as a cake sale, golf day or quiz night, or a donation code on a website or newsletter - makes a huge difference.
If businesses have ideas, we’re happy to help, and if they’re stuck, we have plenty of ideas too.
Beyond financial support, businesses can help by sharing our posts, promoting our activities, or volunteering time. Even small actions like liking and sharing social media content raise awareness and help us reach more people who might benefit from our services.
Volunteering, whether through staff engagement or skills-based support, strengthens our team and allows us to deliver more activities, wellbeing programmes and social connections across the community. Every bit of involvement counts.
What are the biggest challenges older people in Bracknell are facing right now?
Older people in Bracknell Forest face a number of interconnected challenges, with loneliness and social isolation among the most significant. Opportunities for meaningful social connection have reduced, and older adults are often the most affected.
For people living with dementia, the challenge is even greater, as there are very limited safe, appropriate and welcoming places they can attend. Many carers — often unpaid family members - experience exhaustion and isolation themselves, with little opportunity for respite.
At Age Concern Bracknell Forest, community is at the heart of everything we do. Our dementia-friendly Day Centre provides a vital space for people to stay socially active and enjoy meaningful experiences, while carers benefit from trusted respite and peer support.
Our service is also one of the most cost-efficient in the borough, offering support at £49 per day (£245 for five days a week), compared with average UK residential dementia care costs of over £1,400 per week.
What impact does community support have on your ability to deliver services?
Community support is absolutely essential to our ability to deliver services to older people in Bracknell. As a small, locally run charity with limited funding, we rely on the generosity, engagement and partnerships of local businesses, volunteers and residents to keep our services running.
Every donation, volunteer hour or collaboration helps us provide social activities, dementia-friendly care, respite for carers and vital wellbeing programmes.
Community support doesn’t just help us operate - it allows us to expand our reach, offer more inclusive activities and innovate with new services like the Buckler’s Park Community Hub. Simply put, the stronger our community support, the more lives we can positively impact.
Is there a message you’d like to share with Bracknell businesses and residents?
Small charities like ours need help now more than ever. The funding that was once available just isn’t there anymore, yet the need in our community continues to grow. I am incredibly proud of the work we do and of the dedicated team that makes it all possible. I want Age Concern Bracknell Forest to continue reaching those who need us most, so please, join us in our mission to support older people, their families and the wider community.
For more information, please visit www.ageconcernbracknell.org.uk
