1960s

1961. Cecil Jackson-Cole sets up the Help the Aged Refugees Appeal (later shortened to Help the Aged) in response to the aftermath of a cyclone in East Pakistan and an earthquake in Yugoslavia.

1962. The appeal raises £105,302 in its first year.

1963. The first permanent gift shop opens in Bexhill, East Sussex.

1970s

1971. The Charity's income tops £1 million for the first time.

1973. Help the Aged becomes an independent charity and publishes Yours, the first-ever national newspaper for older people.

1974. The Adopt a Granny scheme (now Sponsor a Grandparent) begins.

1977. Help the Aged (Trading) Ltd is launched to raise funds through commercial activities.

1979
The Help the Aged Community Transport Campaign (now called SeniorMobility) is set up.

1980s

1983. HelpAge International, our sister charity, is founded. 

1984. The first high street shop opens selling second-hand goods - today there are 380 Help the Aged shops

1989. Stage for Age is established to organise celebrity support for Charity events and launches.

1990s

1991. SeniorLine, a free telephone advice service, is set up.

1993. Help the Aged launches the World in Sight appeal, distributing 330,000 pairs of unwanted glasses to older people in developing countries.

1994. Help the Aged joins the Disasters Emergency Committee.

1995. Help the Aged, through its Community Transport Campaign, presents its 1,000th minibus to older people’s community groups.

1996. HandyVan, a free home safety and security service, is launched.

1998. The Heating or Eating appeal raises over £1 million to help older people pay for winter fuel bills, and leads to government making winter fuel payments. The Help the Aged website is launched, providing online advice and information.

Present decade

2000. Expansion of Help the Aged research and policy work, especially in financial and health/social care areas.

2001. Help the Aged merges with Research into Ageing, creating a bridge between medical research to prevent ill-health in older age and practical support and campaigning for older people. BBC’s Blue Peter launches an appeal that raises over £1 million for SeniorMobility.
  
2004. The HandyVan service secures its 100,000th house with door and window locks and smoke alarms.

2005. Help the Aged takes a new strategic direction, shifting its focus to disadvantaged older people and rebranding as ‘Help the Aged: We will’.

2006. The elder abuse campaign secures the support of 27,000 people. Cows ‘n’ Things, an ethical online gifts catalogue to fund our overseas work, is launched.