Tag: Independent Age

£1.5m grant fund launched to support older carers experiencing financial hardship

Stuart Mitchell

National charity Independent Age is distributing £1.5 million in funding to projects supporting carers aged over 65 who are living on a low income. The focus for this round of Independent Age’s Older People’s Fund is on improving access to community-based and in-person advice for older carers on a low income, which can make a significant difference to their financial wellbeing. This funding is aimed at organisations that understand the financial challenges that caring can bring for older people, including reduced income, increased costs, housing issues and barriers to support. The funding is dedicated to support both older carers and the older people they care for, recognising the impact of caring across whole households. Funding…

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£1.7 million boost to 11 advice charities supporting older people across UK

Stuart Mitchell

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. Grants will be distributed to charities in Scotland, Kingston upon Hull, Wrexham, and North London 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.  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…

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Charities call for end of rule locking 70,000 pensioners out of vital financial support

Stuart Mitchell

National charity Independent Age and 12 other organisations1 have teamed up to send an open letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden, calling for an end to the mixed age couples rule. The rule, introduced in 2019, could be preventing around 70,000 low-income couples from receiving entitlements specifically for older people until they both reach State Pension age, leaving affected couples up to £7,000 worse off a year. As well as the range of organisations calling for change, new polling from Independent Age shows that…

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Millions cutting back on water as bills rise, putting hygiene and health at risk

Stuart Mitchell

Around a third of people in England and Wales who are cutting back on their water usage because of cost say it is negatively affecting their health (33%) and personal hygiene (31%)​​​​​​​​. When asked how they were cutting back, one in four (25%) of this group said they are spending less time in the shower, 22% are reducing toilet flushes, and 18% are reducing their use of the washing machine. Overall, around one in five people (22%) in England and Wales are cutting down on water usage due to cost,…

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Advice charities supporting older people urged to apply for fund totalling £1.6 million

Stuart Mitchell

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…

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