On Sunday 19 November 2023, the Friends of Age Exchange held their tenth annual Christmas Fair at Blackheath Halls to support their work in the local community. Grant Saw were delighted to be in attendance as a headline sponsor. A total of £6,400 was collected on the day and over £8,000 was raised overall for the second consecutive year.
Age Exchange support people with dementia and their families and carers via targeted care and outreach services. Age Exchange was founded in Blackheath in 1983 and made history 40 years ago as the first organisation in Europe dedicated to reminiscence and intergenerational arts. Their unique approach to dementia intervention has an incredible impact of quality of life, helping people to rediscover their voice, their ability to dance or simply to have fun again.
The 2023 Christmas Fair comprised of 41 stalls selling bespoke artwork, beauty products, clothing, food and drink and homeware. A raffle with a top prize of £250, a tombola and a range of activities were in place to cater for all ages.
Kalpa Prajapati, Partner at Grant Saw, said “We were delighted to support and participate in the Age Exchange Christmas Fair as we have done for the past seven years. The Christmas Fair is always a very well supported and attended occasion and we are thrilled to see Age Exchange raise over £8,000 again. We are proud of our work in the local community and honoured to support an event that helps those with dementia and their families. With the work we do on Wills, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Deputyship Orders, this cause is very close to us. Well done to all involved in organising and running the event and thank you to everyone that attended”.
Jay Johnston, Event Organiser, Friends of Age Exchange, said “It was again a real pleasure to have Grant Saw on board – the seventh time they have been one of our key sponsors. During these seven years, their support for the work of Age Exchange in the local community has been reassuring and highly appreciated. There was a team of around 30 volunteers who offered a warm welcome to visitors and made sure that the Fair ran smoothly. The total team – including marketing and setting up the night before the big day – came to around 60 people. A terrific achievement all round! The feedback from stallholders and visitors included comments like ‘amazing’, ‘magnificent’, ‘something special’, and ‘my favourite Fair of the year’”.
You can view some of our local initiatives via the ‘in the community’ page on our website.