Advice on the move for older people in poverty thanks to Sussex Freemasons

Advice on the move for older people in poverty thanks to Sussex Freemasons

Older people living in poverty will be able to access help and advice on claiming benefits and other services thanks to a new mobile advice service run by Age UK East Sussex, following a grant from Sussex Freemasons.

The £54,000 grant will cover the running costs of the service which is aimed at older people who have difficulty attending existing advice sessions either because of disability or because they live in more isolated rural areas.

Even though Sussex is considered an affluent county, there are many pockets of poverty. A recent Social Market Foundation report identified a number of coastal communities as having some of the country’s worst levels of deprivation.

The service will be delivered from a Benefits Advice and Community Resource vehicle where older people go to as part of their daily lives in Bexhill, Langney, Polegate, Rye and Hastings. It will provide a warm, comfortable and safe environment where older people can get support where they live. Through this free and confidential service trained advisors will work with local older people: 

• conducting benefits checks and helping with making a claim
• ensuring they have enough money to meet basic needs
• providing contact with Age UK East Sussex services and other local support agencies
• being a destination for collecting NHS hearing aid batteries
• distributing publications on issues relevant to older people

The grant from Sussex Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends from across England and Wales.

Steve Hare Chief Executive at Age UK East Sussex said:

“We are very grateful to Sussex Freemasons for their generous grant, which will help many older people in our community who are often unable to access the advice they need to obtain the benefits to which they are entitled.”

Jack Jones from Sussex Freemasons said:

“We are very pleased to be able to help Age UK East Sussex with their work among some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Sussex is a very wealthy place, but there are some real poverty hotspots where older people need help.”