Age UK Norwich Reduces Services Due to Funding Challenges

It is with regret that Age UK Norwich will be reducing some of our services.

We supported over 7,000 residents last year with complex help, and received 18,000 calls on money, debt, care, housing and loneliness.  This lack of funding will mean 2,000 fewer residents being helped with complex issues, and over 6,000 calls we will not be able to take from healthcare professionals and the public.

In 2024, Age UK Norwich helped put £2.87m in the pockets of Norwich’s older people and issued over £10,000 in hardship support. A review by the UEA showed for every £1 invested, £16.62 of value was created by the charity, plus saving the NHS £4.12m. The study also showed that their advice service extended ‘quality of life years’ by 7.32 years, which is a key measure used by the NHS to assess the value of healthcare interventions.

We published a ‘State of Ageing in Norwich Report’ in 2024 to highlight declining standards in the city for older people, when compared with other parts of Norfolk and England, including life expectancy and winter deaths.

Dan Skipper, Chief Executive Officer said “We have developed a strong range of services, tackling the very issues the healthcare system is trying to improve: health inequalities; reducing loneliness; frailty prevention; physical activity, condition rehabilitation; and reducing crisis. Two of our services were included in Prof. Chris Whitty’s – Health in an Ageing Society Report, 2023, but paradoxically, they are the services where our funding has reduced the most.”

The charity will be protecting clients we have already begun supporting and will withdraw some referral pathways.

Chair of Age UK Norwich, Alastair Roy said “The financial pressures we are facing have made it increasingly difficult to maintain our full range of services. The decision to scale back is not one we take lightly. We know that for many older people, our services are a lifeline, and this reduction will have a significant impact on those who rely on us for companionship, practical support, and guidance.  Since 2022, we have maximised the use of our charity reserves to maintain services at their current level, however, this cannot be sustained.”

Mr Roy continued “We know we’re not alone in the VCSE sector facing these challenges, our fear is that this will only serve to impact our residents the most, increase pressure on a healthcare system already at crisis, and permanently damage the VCSE sector. It also means we lose some highly talented staff, who may think twice about returning to the VCSE, damaging our sector.”

Gordon, Age UK Norwich client said "I’m completely serious when I say I wouldn’t be here today without Age UK Norwich. I’ve lost my entire family, and words are inadequate to express my sorrows. Loneliness is a terrible, terrible thing, but there is always hope and support out there if you just reach for it."

For the latest updates on service changes, please visit Our Services, or contact the team on 01603 496333 or enquiries@ageuknorwich.org.uk