Older people’s charity Independent Age has today announced the 27 community organisations that will receive cash as part of a new £1 million funding round. The money will go toward projects aimed at supporting people aged over 65 through the cost of living crisis.
The 27 community-based charities offer a range of support to people in financial hardship. This ranges from helping them access entitlements, like pension credit, to support reducing their costs, through advice on energy efficiency and managing debts. The projects that received funding include a money advice bureau in Glasgow, a pensioners’ centre in south London, and a debt management service for Somali, Eritrean and Kurdish communities in Bolton, among others.
Each of the organisations will receive between £20,000 to £40,000 to help them support people in later life in financial hardship. All of the charities will work directly with older people to help those struggling with the cost of living and ensure they are not forced to choose between heating their home or eating a meal.
For a full list of the organisations, see: https://www.independentage.org/community/our-grants-fund/cost-of-living-grants-fund
The new £1 million funding is in addition to an initial £2 million previously provided to organisations tackling the cost of living crisis. Combined, the cost-of-living fund has now supported a total of 77 organisations with £3 million in grant funding as part of the charity’s ambition to improve the lives of one million older people facing financial hardship by 2027.
One of the community charities that received funding in the last round of grants was Al Hasaniya, which was founded 38 years ago to support Moroccan women in west London. Three quarters of people who visit Al Hasaniya are illiterate and have no education, and the charity’s 20 staff provide a lifeline to those who are unable to communicate in English. The Independent Age grant has allowed the charity to increase the financial advice they offer older people struggling to make ends meet, helping them boost their income and save money on bills.
Souad Talsi MBE, founder and CEO of Al Hasaniya, said:
“We are so grateful to Independent Age for awarding us this grant. The cost of living crisis has hit us and the thousands of women we serve extremely hard.
“The grant has given a huge morale boost to staff as we’re able to provide more support to those who need it – 240 of the 500 people who visit us have come through the Independent Age grant fund, and whether we’re providing financial advice or just reading out a WhatsApp which they can’t translate, we are really able to make a difference to the lives of many more older women.”
Joanna Elson, Chief Executive of Independent Age, said:
“The cost-of-living crisis has had an untold impact on older people. There are now more than two million older people in poverty, and many more hovering dangerously close to it. As we approach winter we are desperately concerned that, without help, many more people will suffer.
“We regularly hear from older people about what this means to them. We hear from people being forced to eat one meal a day; walking around the house in a coat, hat and scarf due to the cold; risking falls by avoiding turning on the lights at night; sitting alone inside all day because they can’t afford to meet their friends for a cup of tea. The list goes on.
“We’re very proud of the work we do, in partnership with other organisations, to ensure older people facing financial hardship have the connections and support they need in their communities. By working together, we can improve the lives of people in later life.”
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Notes to editor
For media enquiries please contact
Amy Dodge, Media Communications Manager at Independent Age, 07732 691466, amy.dodge@independentage.org
Out of hours: 07545 209589
A Life Worth Living
Independent Age’s Christmas appeal ‘A Life Worth Living’ runs from Wednesday 15 November until Friday 12 January to raise vital funds for the charity’s helpline.
On average, Independent Age advisers have helped callers to the Helpline access more than £4,000 of unclaimed support. This money can be life-changing.
To find out more about the appeal and to donate, see: https://www.independentage.org/donate