Wem Co-op helping older customers to keep cool with free cold drinks
News from our partners Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin
Staff at a local supermarket have been helping their older customers to keep cool in the summer heat by offering them free cold drinks and a rest in seats.
Maria Leicester, a staff member at the Midcounties Co-operative in Wem, noticed that older customers were struggling to walk to and from the store with heavy bags of shopping in soaring temperatures so she asked her bosses if they could do something to assist.
The Co-op team decided to put in extra seats near the tills so older people can rest their tired legs and they have also set up a drinks station offering squash and water to everyone to rehydrate themselves.
Maria Leicester from the Midcounties Co-operative in Wem, with customer John Hand having a drink.
Maria said:
“We have seem that quite a few customers, particularly older people, are struggling in the heat. It’s so important to keep hydrated and stay cool if you are older. We started this last Thursday and I served over 300 drinks – so it was a big hit!”
Simon Thornley, Co-op Manager, said:
“We have given out many litres of squash to lots of thirsty shoppers. We are proud to be helping people in our community, particularly our older customers.”
Heather Osborne, Chief Executive of Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, said:
“This is a wonderful example of how businesses can support older people in their local communities and become more age-friendly. It is a very kind gesture which I am sure many older people in Wem are appreciating.”
If you know any older people who are struggling in the heat, Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin can offer help and advice on ways to stay cool. Call 01743 233123 for more information.
Further information
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is a local charity which has been working tirelessly for over 67 years to make life better for older people across the whole of Shropshire.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin offers a range of services for older people in the county. These include: Information and Advice, Day Centres, dementia support, the Help at Home Service, volunteer befriending visitors, Home from Hospital services, Lunch Clubs, Living Well activities, Benefits Advice, and Advocacy on behalf of older people.
Last year over 100,000 volunteer hours were given to support older people, ranging from helping people to fill in benefits forms, supporting people in our 40 Day Centres, visiting isolated older people at home, to acting as receptionists in our Shrewsbury office.
As part of our ‘No one should have No one’ campaign, we are raising money and recruiting volunteers to increase services such as befriending and social activities that reduce isolation and loneliness among older people in Shropshire.
Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is based in Shrewsbury and in Telford. The Shrewsbury office is open from 10.00am – 4.00pm Monday to Friday, 01743 233123. Our office at Meeting Point House in Telford is open every morning, 01952 216018. Further information about our local services is available on our website www.ageukshropshireandtelford.org.uk .
