Nell McAndrew asks ‘Where will you wear yours?’

REGIONAL RELEASE

Nell McAndrew asks the (REGION) ‘Where will you wear yours?' for Age UK's first Bobble Day

Nell McAndrew is calling on people in the (REGION) to get involved in the fluffiest, brightest and newest awareness day in town - Age UK's Bobble Day on Friday 11th February.

The Charity is asking everyone to help turn the nation orange by buying or making a bright orange bobble and wearing it on Bobble Day to mark the shocking fact that in winter over 250 older people die needlessly every day in the UK because of the cold*. Age UK is working to change this and all funds will go towards its Spread the Warmth campaign which is helping over 350,000 older people this winter.

Nell is calling on people across the region to grab a bobble, do something fun with it and take a picture to upload on Age UK's ‘Where Will You Wear Yours' Bobble Day Gallery at www.ageuk.org.uk/bobbleday.

And it's not just about bobbles… you can do anything to help turn the nation orange on February 11th - from wearing orange in your outfit to giving yourself a fake tan to rival those WAGs or baking scrumptious carrot cakes for chums and colleagues. Whatever you do, just make a donation to Age UK by visiting www.ageuk.org.uk/bobbleday, popping to your local Age UK high street shop (where our limited edition bobbles will be available for a suggested donation of £1), or calling Age UK on 0800 169 87 87. Then take a photo of your orange-themed activity and show the world via the Gallery!

Other celebrities supporting Bobble Day include TV presenter Penny Smith, actresses Barbara Windsor and June Whitfield, the legendary Christopher Biggins, and Coronation Street stars Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole) and Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper), all of whom have already been spotted modelling their exclusive bobbles (for pictures of celebs sporting bobbles please see the PDF attached).

Nell McAndrew, model and Age UK ambassador, said: "I'm very excited to be showing off my new fluffy accessory. So come on, go orange and show us all what you've been doing to support Bobble Day! Have fun, but remember that each time you wear your bobble or go orange in some way you will be remembering the 250 older people that die needlessly every day in winter due to the cold. I'd urge everyone to get involved on 11th February to make a real difference to vulnerable older people during winter."

Bobble Day is part of Age UK's Spread the Warmth campaign. Too many older people are suffering and dying needlessly in winter due to lack of warmth, so Age UK created Spread the Warmth to help tackle the issue. The Charity and its local and national partners are making winter warmer by providing information, advice and practical services to help older people keep warm and well in the colder winter months. Our partners offer a variety of services to help with heating, health and human contact including things like helping to claim benefits, getting warm and nutritious meals to older people, and helping to keep homes warm.

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For more Bobble Day information and pictures, or to speak to an older person affected by the cold weather, please call Katie Rispin in the Age UK Media Team on 020 8765 7452 or email katie.rispin@ageuk.org.uk.

*Aggregate of figures for 65 and over excess winter death statistics, from ONS (England and Wales), GROS (Scotland), and NISRA (Northern Ireland), 2009/2010.

Ref: SKMMPF

Notes to Editors

Age UK

For media enquiries relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland please contact the appropriate national office: Age Scotland on 0131 668 8055, Age Cymru on 029 2043 1562 and Age NI on 028 9024 5729.

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged, dedicated to improving later life.

We provide free information, advice and support to over five million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we"). Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).

Media contact: Katie Rispin
Tel: 020 8765 7452
Out-of-hours: 07071 243 243