Our history

We became Age Scotland in 2009 following the merger of Age Concern Scotland and Help the Aged. But our history dates back to 1943 when our predecessor charity, the Scottish Old People’s welfare Committee, was set up.

In 1943 there were only three older people’s welfare committees in Scotland. These were in Dundee, Edinburgh and Peebles. The Scottish Old People’s Welfare Committee’s immediate aims were to investigate the position of older people in Scotland and raise 
awareness of their needs, and to support the development of local old people’s welfare committees around the country. Today there are more than 500 organisations 
in membership of Age Scotland, each providing friendship, activities or services for older people, or campaigning on behalf of older people. Many of these organisations 
have been set up by older people, and are run by older people.

In the build up to our 75th anniversay in 2018, and with the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund, Age Scotland volunteers, members and staff took part in an ambitious project to research the story of national and local older people's groups and organisations in Scotland from 1943 to the present day, and present our history in a special anniversary timeline magazine and film.