Independent Age has announced a new round of its Boosting Advice Fund, as part of its continued fight against poverty in later life. The national charity is making £1.6 million available to local advice organisations supporting older people in financial hardship. The fund will be open for Expressions of Interest from 4 February to 25 February.
The Boosting Advice Fund has already awarded £4.9 million in the past two years to strengthen an advice sector that continues to deliver vital support despite long-term underfunding and increasing demand. This latest round reflects the ongoing and urgent need for high‑quality, accessible advice as older people on low incomes across the UK struggle with basic living costs.
The funding will be directed to charities operating in areas identified as having high populations of older people in need of advice services. They are:
England
· Kingston upon Hull
· Nottingham
· North London – boroughs of Camden, Islington and Haringey
Scotland
· Argyll and Bute
· Highlands
· Na h-Eileanan an Iar
· Orkney
· Shetland
Wales
· Wrexham
The grants will help the organisations deliver consistent, in‑person advice that enables older people to avoid unfair or unavoidable costs, maximise their income, and access the financial support they’re entitled to.
Eligible organisations can apply for grants up to £150,000 over 3 years or up to £210,000 if working in partnership. Independent Age welcomes applications from organisations with an existing track record of delivering high-quality, face-to-face advice. Advice charities not currently working with older people are encouraged to apply but must clearly outline how they will build this support into their services.
All applications should be made through the online portal found on the Grants section of the Independent Age website. Please read the application guidance and FAQ document carefully before completing your form.
The closing date for submission of an Expression of Interest is 2pm on Wednesday 25 February 2026.
Hannah Lison, Head of Grants and Partnerships at Independent Age, said:
“We’re really proud of the work being done by our current Boosting Advice grant-partners. All 32 charities are providing vital advice and support to the older members of their communities. However, there are still two million older people living in poverty, many of whom don’t have access to advice services tailored to their needs.
“We’ve already seen the difference that high-quality advice can make for older people on a low income. In the first twelve months of the initial funding round, over 7,400 people received the support they needed. We want to extend this work to new areas of the UK and provide advice for the people that need it most. We want to strengthen the safety net provided by local advice charities and make sure nobody faces poverty in later life alone.