National charity Independent Age has awarded more than £1.7 million to 11 advice charities across the UK, to provide much-needed advice and support to older people on lower incomes. In North London, a combined £569,000 will go to Age UK Camden, the Cypriot Community Centre of the Association of Cypriot Organisations, the Brent Irish Advisory Service, and Islington People’s Rights.
The projects will be delivered over a period of three years, and the grants range from £140,000 up to £210,000.
Grantee Brent Irish Advisory Centre, Haringey, said:
“BIAS is absolutely delighted to have received a grant award from Independent Age, which will allow our dedicated advice team to establish an outreach advice service for older people in financial hardship in Haringey. This invaluable support will help us ensure that every older person who needs help can access it and that no one in our community is left behind.”
Funded projects will support Independent Age’s mission to improve the financial wellbeing of older people across the UK by providing advice to increase incomes and reduce costs. This includes helping them to access financial entitlements, such as Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, or Carer’s Allowance, or helping to reduce their utility bills and other housing costs.
The organisations receiving funding are in high-priority areas based on census data indicating high populations of older people on low income. Each round of the Boosting Advice Fund focuses on different areas of need.
Grants will also be distributed to charities in Kingston upon Hull, Wrexham, and Scotland’s Highlands and Islands to support older people facing financial hardship. This third round of funding brings the total grants awarded through Independent Age’s Boosting Advice Fund to £6.6 million.
A key aim of Independent Age’s Boosting Advice Fund is to increase the capacity for face-to-face advice provision. Building trust during in-person advice sessions takes time but is vital for older people who may prefer face-to-face support, have limited access to online advice, or require home visits.
Hannah Lison, Head of Grants and Partnerships at Independent Age, said:
“We are so proud to support these four incredible organisations in North London as part of our mission to improve the lives of older people experiencing financial hardship across the UK. 1.7 million older people living in poverty across the UK, and 200,000 in London, face complicated systems that make it difficult to apply for help, which is why people in later life must have access to expert advice to make sure they’re receiving everything they’re entitled to.
The charities we are funding, Age UK Camden, the Cypriot Community Centre of the Association of Cypriot Organisations, the Brent Irish Advisory Service, and Islington People’s Rights- are deeply rooted in communities we know have a high number of older people on low incomes and have a proven track record of providing excellent face-to-face support. We are excited to work with them over the next three years to improve the lives of older people facing financial hardship across the UK.”
Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life. Its helpline and expert advisers offer free, practical support to older people. Independent Age has provided more than 140 grants since 2022 to local organisations working directly with older people across the UK. The charity highlights the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaigns for change.
For more information on Independent Age’s grant-making, visit: https://www.independentage.org/grant-making.
