Independent Age’s Boosting Advice Fund is in its second round, aiming to support advice charities that assist older people in financial hardship.
The fund is designed to help these charities guide older people, helping them avoid unfair or unavoidable costs and gain access to financial support.
The national charity for older people in financial hardship is keen to strengthen the advice sector, which it says is doing great work despite being chronically underfunded.
Last year, the first round of the Boosting Advice Fund awarded £3.1 million to 19 advice organisations.
The second round is focused on five high-priority areas, including Glasgow, based on census data that highlights higher populations of older people.
The grants will be distributed over three years, allowing charities to provide ongoing or regular advice to older people facing financial hardship.
Independent Age is looking to fund organisations with a proven track record of providing high-quality advice in a face-to-face setting.
However, organisations that are not currently working with older people can still apply, provided they have a robust plan for future engagement.
Eligible organisations can apply for a minimum of £90,000 (£30,000 per year) and up to £150,000 (£50,000 per year).
All applications should be made at independentage.tfaforms.net/f/BAEOI.
The closing date for submission of an expression of interest is 2pm on February 26.
For all queries, please contact the Independent Age Grants Team at grants@independentage.org.
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 two 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.”
