Age UK Blackburn with Darwen has been named as The Mall Blackburn’s official charity for 2023.
The independent local charity has been helping older people in the community for more than 45 years and it was selected after The Mall invited applications from not-for-profit organisations from across the county.
In 2022 The Mall raised more than £5,000 for East Lancashire Hospice, which was part of over £50,000 worth of donations to local charities.
The partnership with Age UK Blackburn with Darwen starts on Saturday 1st April and The Mall is working with volunteers to come up with a plan of action to make the most out of the partnership.
Loraine Jones, General Manager at The Mall Blackburn, said: “We had so many truly deserving charities apply to work with us and making a decision honestly gets more difficult every year.
“We have worked with the team at Age UK Blackburn with Darwen on smaller projects in the past and they are truly dedicated to helping older people in the area.
“As a shopping centre at the heart of the community we work hard to build rewarding relationships with charities that help local people, so Age UK Blackburn with Darwen is a perfect fit.
“We will still be working with lots of other worthy causes throughout the year too.”
Vicky Shepherd, Chief Executive at Age UK Blackburn with Darwen, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been chosen as The Mall’s charity of the year as it will give us a real boost in terms of fundraising and awareness.
“Older people are being significantly impacted by the current cost of living crisis so this partnership could not have come at a better time.
“Every penny of the money raised will go towards assisting us in our mission in helping to keep Blackburn with Darwen’s older people independent and living well, longer.”
Funds and awareness will be raised through bucket collections, staff challenges and much more.
For more information about Age UK Blackburn with Darwen please visit: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/blackburnwithdarwen/