What you can do to help

Whatever your age - whether you are an elder able to pass on your wisdom, or a young person keen to be an agent for change, there is plenty of opportunity to gain a sense of citizenship and participation by volunteering with PRIAE.

PRIAE offers lots of chances to get involved with pioneering and life-changing work and the organisation likes to keep in touch with its helpers, giving a real sense of belonging.

PRIAE Champions

Mrs Shu Pao Lim, 82, has a long association with PRIAE and is hugely active in her efforts to improve the quality of life for Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) elders, especially the Chinese community of London.

Born in Burma, Mrs Lim arrived in the UK in 1959 after living in China, India and the USA where she had been on scholarship,

She was involved with social work for many years and helped to found the Great Wall Housing Association which joined forces with PRIAE and Hanover Housing in a project to set up an Extra Care Home for Chinese elders.

“PRIAE has given me a lot of support,” said Mrs Lim, who is also featured in PRIAE’s BAFTA-launched film Playing Our Part After 50 advocating elders to volunteer and remain active in their communities.

Mr Khan Lodhi, 79, who was born in Africa, speaks all the Asian languages and his long career has involved social work and the areas of mental health, dementia and learning disability.

He has been very active in helping to create awareness of dementia in BME communities and is a great fan of PRIAE and its work.

“There is no other organisation like PRIAE – it is the only one of its kind and encompasses all BME communities, playing an important role in the UK and Europe,” Mr Lodhi commented.

“PRIAE takes all sorts of integration problems on board – whether it be cultural, linguistic or religious. It is a pioneering organisation that is spear-heading understanding between communities and there is a great deal of integrity and hard work in what they are doing. As a BME elder associated with PRIAE, you are encouraged to come and speak out and air your views.”

PRIAE’s other champions include many black and minority ethnic elders and age organisation managers and trustees. We will introduce them and their organisations regularly. PRIAE also has many associates/volunteers who come from policy, professions, research and academia who support PRIAE’s specific projects from MEC to CNEOPSA in dementia care.

For more information on how you can get involved with PRIAE, please telephone:
+44 (0)113 285 5990 or email info@priae.org