Businessman appointed as trustee to national charity founded by Dame Esther Rantzen
ONE of Cumbria’s leading entrepreneurs has been appointed as trustee to a national charity which was founded by TV star Dame Esther Rantzen.
James Batchelor, the businessman and inventor behind Windermere-based Alertacall, will support The Silver Line in his new role.
The charity was founded by Dame Esther in 2013, and was inspired by the loneliness she experienced after the death of her husband, the BBC producer Desmond Wilcox.
James said: “The Silver Line is a direct-action charity that genuinely changes the lives of older people. Its overheads are low and that means you can have confidence that anything you donate to it, really will help older people - feel connected, and part of the real world again.
“It's a privilege to be invited to join The Silver Line as a Trustee and to be able to support something so important."
The Silver Line operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people available across the UK which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week - and since being launched has received more than two million calls.
After interviews with existing Trustees, James was invited to become a Trustee of The Silver Line in January 2019.
Sophie Andrews, the CEO of the charity, who has overseen the growth of the organisation to several hundred team members based in London and Blackpool, and a network of thousands of volunteers said:
"It's wonderful news that James is able to join The Silver Line as a Trustee. He has been a keen and helpful supporter of the charity for several years, is an expert on the ageing population and also an incredible source of ideas about how we can grow the charity - and do so in a sustainable way.
“We're delighted to have him on board and his experience will be invaluable."
Dame Esther said: “I am delighted that The Silver Line will be able to use the skill and commitment James Batchelor has already shown in the creation of his services for older people. I greatly admire his work in this sector, and I look forward greatly to working with him in the future in order to reach out to the most vulnerable and isolated older people who need and deserve our support.”
James, of Windermere, has helped to create a number of successful ventures over the last 25 years and for the last decade has been focused on creating clever ways to improve contact for older people through the award-winning business Alertacall, which employs around 70 people.
Inspired originally by the needs of his own grandmother who was called Eveline - James made over 50,000 phone calls to older people and visited 1,000 in their own homes over several years to understand their needs, and so that he could invent ways to improve daily contact for them.
James has extended an invitation to individuals or organisations who want to support The Silver Line and its great work, either by donating to it or by developing partnerships, saying he would be happy to facilitate introductions to the right people within the charity.
If you are or know of an older person who would enjoy the chance to speak to someone confidentially for advice, and friendship - The Silver Line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0800 4 708090. More details on the charity and how to donate are at www.thesilverline.org.uk
Editors Notes
Image caption - Esther Rantzen, James Batchelor and Sophie Andrews
This press release was issued by 32West on behalf of Alertacall. For media inquiries, call James Higgins on 01229 808306 or 07553 203234