Letter: Concerned to be positive about age

Sir: Your article "When you're over the hill, you pick up speed" (4 July), suggests that "charities like Age Concern have done as much harm as good". This is unfair. While Age Concern is the largest single voluntary network in the UK providing direct services to older people, presenting and promoting positive images of, and opportunities for, older people - everyone of 50 and above - is a key part of our work.

Age Concern's Age Resource initiative works specifically with "younger old" people, encouraging their active participation in their local communities; our "foster grandparent" scheme TransAgeAction directly involves older volunteers as confidants and advisers to children in care; Ageing Well is a nationwide health promotion programme run by older health mentors.

SALLY GREENGROSS

Director General

Age Concern England

London SW1