Charity and Care Sector Leaders Sound Alarm on Later Life Services, calling for urgent investment to protect lives.

Leaders from Norfolk and Waveney’s Later Life Provider Network, which represents 45 local organisations supporting over 50,000 residents aged 50 and above, have met with Norwich City MPs Clive Lewis and Alice Macdonald to highlight the severe challenges facing services for older people. The network provides essential services such as home care, housing support, information and advice, advocacy, transport and social activities for older people. They’re often helping people ahead of crisis, and have local, we’ll recognised brands people trust.

The meeting on Thursday 19 December was part of a wider series of discussions with MPs across the region, recognising the significance of Norfolk’s growing, ageing population, and declining health standards, when compared to other areas of the country.

Dan Skipper, Chair of the Network said “Our members are facing rising demand on their services, with growing referrals from the NHS, Social Care and District Councils. We welcome this, we have high-quality services transforming lives, but we’re not seeing any investment to support that growth, on the contrary, funding is in decline. In a recent survey, our membership reported an average funding reduction of 16% in 2024 and are predicting a decrease of 36% in 2025. The reality is that these funding decisions are making it harder for us to deliver the support that our communities rely on.”

The network provides vital services for older people, including home care, housing support, information, advocacy, transport, and social activities. However, these organizations are facing mounting pressure due to shrinking budgets and growing demand. As members across all services highlighted, the challenges extend beyond funding, with decisions on commissioning and contracts at both local and national levels exacerbating the strain. The discussions underscored the need for long-term investment to drive strategic changes that not only improve health and life expectancy but also support one of Labour's key goals: economic growth. Currently, many people are leaving the workforce due to ill-health and care responsibilities, further highlighting the urgency of addressing these issues.

In a packed agenda, The debate covered key issues such as the National Care Service, fair social care funding alongside the NHS, and how cuts to preventative services are hindering progress on health inequalities. It was also highlighted that public awareness of the voluntary and care sectors' crucial work is low, despite their significant impact. Raising the importance of decision makers understanding these services, as investing in them not only improves health outcomes but also supports economic growth by helping people stay in the workforce.

Alice Macdonald and Clive Lewis recognized the VCSE sector’s key role in meeting the needs of older people, in line with government objectives. They agreed to support action to address commissioning barriers and urged charities to collaborate on building an evidence base to highlight the impact of local charity closures due to potential funding cuts. Alice Macdonald further commented “The VCSE sector plays a vital role in Norfolk and across the country. It was sobering but sadly not surprising to hear the challenges many organisations face against a backdrop of years of funding cuts, including to local authorities which has a significant knock on impact to the VCSE sector. I am however encouraged by the potential to work together to find practical solutions as well as the recently announced increases by the Government to core local government spending which I will be working to ensure benefits the VCSE sector in Norfolk"

Ian Elliott, Chief Executive of Norwich Door to Door said “We recognise the financial pressures in the public sector, but our members seem to be facing cuts, to fund NHS or council services. We know the impact Later Life Providers make, supporting people in their communities, which helps avoid crisis, re-admission and tackle waiting times. Unfortunately, these opportunities don’t seem to be valued by the Integrated Care System Commissioning system as much as those in the GP Surgery or hospitals.”

Mark Hitchcock, Chief Executive of Norfolk Citizens Advice said “It’s fantastic that this network of specialist providers exists, and we are discussing the challenges and opportunities ahead, with MPs joining the debate. However, some of these services face the real threat of closure in the coming year, and if this continues, we risk a full sector collapse. We need urgent support to address these critical issues to ensure Norfolk people can enjoy healthy lives.”

Mr Skipper closed the meeting thanking the MPs for a constructive debate, stating “We have some amazing services that are hugely effective. They’re innovative and have potential for up-scaling that can help drive better outcomes for our population, and support the reform of the NHS.”

Norfolk & Waveney has one of the oldest populations in the country and was featured heavily in Prof. Chris Whitty’s Chief Medical Officer Report, Health in an Ageing Society, 2023. Experts agree that investing in prevention and care and support in the community is essential to protect the health of our population. This is also recognised in local NHS and Public Health strategy.