Scams Awareness Project Volunteer Opportunities

Scams Awareness Project

The project

Age Cymru has been funded by Comic Relief to deliver this groundbreaking pilot project over the next 2 years.

The scams awareness project aims to help protect older people from financial-based scams in the local authority areas of Conwy, Denbighshire, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf in year one, and extending to Monmouthshire and Gwynedd in year two.  These areas were chosen because of their high proportion of older residents and an associated high frequency of dementia.  These areas are also associated with economic deprivation or rural isolation.

The project will recruit up to six older volunteers in each area, who will deliver workshops, in pairs, to older people and their families/carers.  The sessions will provide practical information and resources to help make the participants aware of tactics employed by scammers and empower them to protect themselves.
The volunteers will be recruited and supported by two part-time Project Officers who were appointed in July 2013.  The Project Officer for North Wales is Dawn Evans and the South Wales Project Officer is Rosalyn Williams.

The Evidence

The Alzheimer's Society published a report called 'Short Changed:  Protecting people with dementia from financial abuse', 2012
40% of older people in the UK with dementia are regularly targeted by scam mail some of whom have lost money by entering competitions.
15% had been approached by rogue traders or had unnecessary work done.
70% were routinely targeting by rogue traders over the telephone.
62% had been approached by unscrupulous cold callers or doorstep sales people.
Volunteers
Local volunteers will be supported and trained to deliver awareness sessions about how to identify scams and take preventative action.
Volunteers will deliver the sessions in pairs in pre organised venues.  Ongoing support will be provided by the Project Officers and additional support will be available through peer networking opportunities organised by the project officers.  This will enable volunteers to speak to others about the sessions they have delivered, to celebrate the outcomes from the project, and to share issues or challenges that may have arisen. .
Volunteers will be required to attend 2 days induction and training.  The training will include sessions on dementia, scams, safeguarding older people and skills on how to deliver the sessions.  Volunteer expenses will be paid for associated travel costs.

Background

Age Cymru is concerned that in February 2012 -2013 over 2500 incidences of older people being scammed were reported. To the criminal it is an attractive crime with high yields and minimal risk of getting caught. To older people it increases mental and physical ill health often resulting in loss of confidence and self worth and experiencing depression and anxiety.
The safeguarding programme has been raising awareness of scams and the impact they have on older people for the last six years.  Part of that awareness raising was the development of a scams toolkit which included a door hanger.  Over 30,000 of these have been distributed to older people across Wales.
The evidence gathered by the project has also led Age Cymru to develop a specific policy campaign on scams and swindles which launched in June 2013.  The aim of this campaign is to convince government and communication companies to increase the protection afforded to older people from scams.
Evidence also indicated that more direct work with older people was required to make them aware of scams and to empower them to say no to mail, telephone and doorstep scams.  People with dementia are particularly vulnerable to these types of scams.  This project focuses on people with dementia and their carers and seeks to take a preventative approach.

Contact us
Could you be a volunteer for us or know someone who would like an opportunity to volunteer for a new and innovative project?
Are you a professional that would like more information or to get involved with the project?

Please contact us:

Dawn Evans

North Wales Project Officer

Dawn.evans@agecymru.org.uk

01352 706228

Ros Williams

South Wales Project Officer

Rosalyn.williams@agecymru.org.uk

02920 43 1552