Older Citizens Advocacy York (OCAY)

OCAY is a small York charity. We work to help people over the age of 50 get their voice heard by providing a free, independent and confidential advocacy service. This support aims to help older people reduce feelings of loneliness and social isolation by helping them to maximise their income, voice concerns about issues affecting them and access information about local services and resources to enable them to make informed decisions about their lives. OCAY has been an independent charity in York since 2001 following a Better Government for Older People pilot programme that identified the need for advocacy, specifically for older people. It became a Charitable Incorporated Organisation in 2017. OCAY is primarily funded by Reaching Communities (the Big Lottery), but also relies on grants and donations from other sources. OCAY has upwards of 30 Advocate Volunteers who provide free support to more than 300 clients annually. In 2019, we were awarded the Investing in Volunteers awar...