Independent Age’s Boosting Advice Fund has opened a second round in response to the urgent and ongoing need of advice services for older people in financial hardship. The £1.8 million fund will support advice charities in South London that help older people avoid unfair or unavoidable costs and access financial support.
The national charity for older people in financial hardship wants to invest in strengthening an advice sector that already does great work despite chronic underfunding. Last year, the first round of the Boosting Advice Fund awarded £3.1 million to 19 advice organisations. The second round is focussed on high priority areas based on census data highlighting large populations of older people.
In the London area, applications are open to charities in:
Southwark
Lambeth
Lewisham
The grants will be distributed over three years for charities to provide ongoing or regular advice that benefits older people facing financial hardship. Independent Age is looking to fund organisations with an established track record of providing high quality advice in a face-to-face setting. Applying organisations don’t have to be currently working with older people but will have to provide a robust plan as to how they plan to in the future.
Eligible organisations will be able to apply for a minimum of £90,000 (£30,000 per year) and up to £150,000 (£50,000 per year).
Hannah Lison, Head of Grants and Partnerships at Independent Age, said:
“Our first round of funding received so much interest that it was very clear that we’d have to run a second one. There are around 2 million older people living in poverty in the UK and many more are teetering just above this threshold. These are the people we need to reach.
“Access to quality advice is key to tackling poverty in later life, as we know many older people who are entitled to Pension Credit and other benefits are not receiving it. This £1.8 million will go directly to advice organisations whose brilliant work will improve older people’s lives through increased financial well-being.
“If you know of an organisations that might be a good fit for this grants fund, please visit our website or get in touch with our Grants team to find out more.”
All applications should be through the online portal independentage.tfaforms.net/f/BAEOI
Please read the application guidance and FAQ document carefully before completing your form https://www.independentage.org/grant-making/boosting-advice-fund
The closing date for submission of an Expression of Interest is 2pm on 26 February 2025.
For all queries, please contact the Independent Age Grants Team [email protected]
