National recognition for scams awareness project

A partnership between Cheshire East Council and Age UK which combats fraudsters who prey on the vulnerable has scooped a top national award.  

The Older People Scams Awareness and Aftercare Project, funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund, raises scams awareness with people aged 50 and above across Cheshire East and supports older victims of fraud to get back on their feet. 

More than 6,000 people receive its scams awareness update bulletin each month, and it offers scams awareness sessions to groups of older people and those who work with them.

Now, due to its positive impact on the community and victims of scams, the project has been awarded a Charted Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Brian Smith Individual Heroes Award. This is given to recognise the bravery of scam victims and the officers that work on these difficult cases. 

Falling victim to a scam can devastate someone’s life, and it happens to even the sharpest of us. The Individual Heroes award is given to those who look out for vulnerable neighbours, volunteer within their communities and those who may be a victim but refuse to be defined by it. 

Cheshire East Council trading standards enforcement officer Andy Burrows attended the awards event in London last week, to represent the team.

Project manager Sally Wilson said: “We are delighted that the project’s success over the past 18 months has been recognised. We receive the award on behalf of the hard-working teams at Age UK Cheshire East and the borough’s trading standards service, especially our scams awareness champions, who volunteer to raise awareness in their communities. 

“This award is also to recognise the bravery of scam victims we have worked with in coming forward for support, so they can get back on their feet and be a valued member of their community.”