Our grant-making

 

Boosting Advice Fund

 

Our approach to grant-making

Cost-of-living Fund: Round 1

In response to the cost-of-living crisis, in 2021 Independent Age awarded a total of £2 million (£1 million kindly donated by the Pension Insurance Company) to 50 organisations across the UK that work to increase the amount of money in the pockets of older people. This was achieved through maximising people’s income by providing support to claim benefits, or by reducing expenditure, such as by switching energy provider, getting housing support or debt advice, or considering social tariffs.

These grants ended in November 2023, and we have evaluated the impact that they had for the organisations we funded, and the older people they supported. Some of the highlights include:

35,635 older people supported

£13 million of benefits secured

14,793 older people reported increased awareness of the financial support available to them

12,343 older people reported an improvement in their financial wellbeing

  • The funding has been a life-saver for many. The welfare benefits service has been a much-needed support to vulnerable frail older people who are living with poor health and when their well-being is visibly impacted by the cost of living.

    Age Connects Cardiff & the Vale

  • I would like to emphasise the profound impact that the provided funding has had on our organisation's ability to engage with and support disadvantaged elderly clients.

    Somali Advice Link

Cost-of-living Fund: Round 2

These grants ended in November 2024, and we have evaluated the impact that they had for the organisations we funded, and the older people they supported. Some of the highlights include:

People supported: 15,443

Number of people supported to access previously unclaimed entitlements: 4,804 

Total value of benefits secured: In excess of £13 million

  • The difference that the funding overall has made to our ability to support older people experiencing financial hardship has been fantastic. Being able to have extra capacity specifically for supporting elderly people really helped

    Vauxhall Law Centre, Liverpool

  • It has moved us away from ad hoc support to sustained support which means that the key workers can continue to work with the individuals that needed the support on a longer term basis, increasing their chances of success of getting out of financial hardship.

    Bolton Solidarity Community Association, Bolton

  • The funding has allowed us to provide more home visits to a population with health issues which means they are unable to leave the home to access advice.

    Stockton & District Advice and Information Service, Stockton-on-Tees

Funded UK projects and where they are

Cost-of-living grantee locations map

Contact us

If you have any questions, please email us at grants@independentage.org.