AGE CONS-CERN ; EXCLUSIVE Charity Uses Donations to Help Pensioners in Jail With Gardening and Keep Fit Classes

By BEN GOLDBY

AN OAP charity is using public donations to offer gardening tips and keep fit classes to elderly crooks at a Midland jail.

The Sunday Mercury has learned that Age Concern is spending funds on making life more comfortable for over-60s inmates at HMP Stafford.

In a scheme run by the Staffordshire branch of the charity, older prisoners are being offered free activities, including book clubs and creative writing workshops, to “address resettlement needs”.

But last night, the project was blasted for rewarding criminals who often target the elderly.

John Mellor, Chairman of the Wolverhampton Pensioners’ Action Group, said that Age Concern had got its priorities wrong.

“Pensioners are invariably victims of crime and for those criminals to be getting resources from a charity is not right,” said the retired police chief superintendent.

“There are relatively few old prisoners and they tend to be the very serious offenders, often serving life sentences.

“I think Age Concern has gone off balance with this one.

“I fully understand the desire to assist prisoners and help them redeem themselves. But its primary objective should be to help those who have led a blameless life and have the misfortune to be old and poor and who suffer from things like fuel poverty.

“The charity relies on contributions from the public and it should consider how it uses those funds.”

HMP Stafford, a Category C jail, is home to a range of criminals including burglars, drug dealers and long-term prisoners serving time for violent offences.

A total of 71 of its 680 inmates are eligible for the new scheme, which is open to those over the age of 60.

The scheme is the brainchild of Principal Officer Brian Bell. He said: “A lot of people get depressed because they are elderly and feel isolated.

“This project will help them to work in a group with others of a similar age.”

Staffordshire and District Age Concern and the Governor of HMP Stafford were both unavailable for comment.

But Nick Maslen, who runs the South Staffordshire branch of the charity, did explain how projects like the prison scheme are run.

“Across Staffordshire Age Concern we have a total turnover of pounds 4.5 million a year and at least 500 volunteers,” he said.

“Mostly we provide services on contract from social services.

Other projects will be funded by grants and from contributors to the charity.

“What we try to do is be cutting edge and inventive. We look for opportunities to help groups that wouldn’t otherwise get any attention.”

Age Concern is Britain’s biggest charity for the elderly. It runs schemes to help pensioners keep fit and offers advice on financial issues, as well as health and funeral plans.

The charity also runs a series of shops, nationwide, to help raise fundss.

bengoldby@mrn.co.uk

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