Financial Inclusion for older people

Aim: To help people stay warm and secure in their own homes, truly vital as we head into winter and people may choose between heating and eating.

Our project, Financial Inclusion, helps people living in Torridge to maximise income, benefit entitlements and provide access to grants for those of pensionable age.  The people we support often have complex health issues, further compounded by high levels of rural and social isolation. Our aim is to help people stay healthy, warm and safe in their own homes. 

 We help people review their financial situations and access other sources of income, such as reviewing benefit entitlements and accessing home improvement grants. We run the project in the local community, with one project coordinator and a fantastic set of volunteers. 

 We would like to use the funding to keep this essential service going and expand across Torridge and into North Devon.  We know expansion is needed more than ever as we receive many requests for support and are currently unable to fulfil these. 

Why we need your support!

"I have just heard that the DWP has awarded my father the higher rate of Attendance Allowance.  This means he can continue to have carers support each day.  It is such a relief to me to know that he will have contact each day with someone to support him to stay in his own home and monitor his wellbeing.  This would not have been possible without your input, so thank you very much, both from and my father."

Both Torridge and North Devon are some of the least densely populated areas in the South West (2nd and 5th respectively – source ONS Census 2021).  This issue of rurality can result in poorer connections to major urban economies, health services and employment.

 Alongside the concerns of rurality, we have an aging population, the Census highlighted that both areas saw a significant increase in people aged 65+, North Devon saw an increase of 22% and Torridge an increase of 30%.  We start to see a real issue of older people finding themselves potentially rurally and socially isolated.

 This further compounded by social deprivation. In the 2019 Government Deprivation tables, Torridge was again ranked 67 out of the 326 local authorities in England. North Devon fared marginally better at 122, resulting in reduced access to housing/services, lower income and poorer physical/mental health. 

Fuel poverty is a huge issue for both Torridge and North Devon, and this is for a variety of reasons.  Rural homes are more likely to be off the mains gas grid. The rural premium on living costs is 10-20%, and energy is the largest element. High proportion of older houses which are harder to insulate. Older population than national average.

“It is wonderful I am so excited I am so delighted. M got his grant too. You have the midas touch. It means that I can enjoy going out again and can park close. it is like the domino effect I am so grateful to you.”

 Over the lifetime of the project, we have accessed nearly £2.5m in financial support through minimal investment. We are a small, dedicated team of 1 project worker and an army of volunteers that believes passionately about improving people’s lives, supporting them and their families. Here is some feedback from the people using the service.

This project successfully funded on 29th December 2022