Cost of Living - What we are doing to help

Cost of living – What we are doing to help
 
We know that some older people locally are struggling with the rising cost of living. We continue to do what we can to provide support, and we will keep on looking at further steps we can take. Our support includes:
 
Welfare Benefits Advice

Our Welfare Benefits team offers free and confidential support and is at hand to make sure any potential extra income older people might be entitled to receive is not going unclaimed. Our team is able to provide information on the latest grants (including fuel grants) and on other means of support that are available in the borough. The team can also help deal with energy companies and compare rates being offered by different suppliers.

Contact the Welfare Benefits team at welfarebenefits@ageukrichmond.org.uk or call 020 8878 3546.
 

Wellbeing Services

Our Wellbeing Services offer many groups & activities free of charge or at a low cost. This includes our Community Connections support for those needing a helping hand to regain confidence to get involved with an activity; our telephone befriending; coffee mornings, health walks and social & wellbeing centres and activities. Where we do make small charges, we keep them as low as possible.

Effective immediately, we are also introducing free annual membership at our social & wellbeing centres in Twickenham, Barnes and Whitton for older people in receipt of pension credit. This will be for new members, and existing members when they renew.

In January 2024 only, our social pub lunches will also be made available for half the price for those on pension credit.

Contact the Wellbeing Services team at wellbeing@ageukrichmond.org.uk or call 020 8744 1965. 


Warm Spaces

Over winter, we will once again be using our social & wellbeing centres In Barnes, Twickenham and Whitton as free of charge warm spaces at certain times.

Contact the Wellbeing Services team to find out more at wellbeing@ageukrichmond.org.uk or call 020 8744 1965. 


Connect to Tech

Our Connect to Tech service can help older people get online and improve digital skills – even for those who are a complete beginner and have no internet access at home. Support is provided free of charge.

Contact Connect to Tech at connecttotech@ageukrichmond.org.uk or call 020 8744 1965.
 

Handyperson

Our handyperson service is here to support older people with minor adaptation and repairs to aid independence at home. Our free of labour charge support includes fitting energy saving devices; changing lightbulbs; replacing toilet seats and fitting security devices. We supply and fit key safes at low cost. For all other work, we are introducing a new lower rate for those on pension credit of £20 an hour.

Contact our handyperson team at handyperson@ageukrichmond.org.uk or call 020 3326 9432.
 

Nightingale Service

Our Nightingale Service continues to offer free support to older people who live on their own and are returning home after a hospital stay and to those who are unwell at home and need an extra helping hand. This free support for those eligible includes key safe fitting, shopping, furniture moves, helping with appointments and advice.
 
Our Nightingale team can be contacted by emailing nightingale@ageukrichmond.org.uk or calling 020 8876 2449.
 

Our partners

We work in close partnership with a wide range of other community and voluntary groups across Richmond upon Thames who also provide free of charge and low-cost support. If we can’t help, we can suggest others who may be able to. 

At Age UK Richmond, we are keen to hear any comments, compliments and feedback you may have about the services we offer to you. We value your honest contribution which could help us to make improvements and shape the future of the charity.

If you wish to provide any feedback to us, you can use this online form or email us at info@ageukrichmond.org.uk