Age UK BRWF celebrates after receiving £72k in National Lottery funding

Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest is celebrating today after being awarded £72,367 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest will use this funding to support its Befriending service over the next three years, a service often described as ‘a lifeline’ by its users.

As a local charity supporting older people, Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest understand the value that people place on the ability to talk, listen and share information with another human being who they feel they can trust and rely upon, which is why its Befriending service is such an important part its work. The service is based on friendship, with volunteers regularly visiting a person in their home and/ or calling them for a chat, helping people to maintain (and hopefully develop) those all-important social connections. The service, which is free and not time-limited, regularly supports over 300 older people, supported by an amazing team of 50+ volunteers.

This new National Lottery funding will support the running costs for the service (including staffing and volunteer costs) as well as helping the charity to recruit more volunteers so that it can support more older people across North Worcestershire, helping to prevent and tackle loneliness.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

Amanda Allen, CEO at Age UK Bromsgrove, Redditch & Wyre Forest said: “These are difficult times for charities, with challenges on finances, whilst demand for services continues to grow. Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant means that we can safeguard the provision of our Befriending service for the next three years for the 300+ people that we are already regularly supporting, as well as seeking ways to develop the service so that we can reach and support more people. Regular contact is so important to our wellbeing (providing a sense of belonging, helping with confidence and making people feel less anxious and alone) - this funding will really help to make a big difference to people’s lives.”

During the pandemic, in 2020 alone, The National Lottery Community Fund distributed almost £1 billion to charities and community organisations across the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk