Through the Older People’s Fund, a total of £2.1 million is available for organisations whose work can help older women from racially minoritised groups to reduce financial hardship and will achieve outcomes against the following themes:
- Income – Older people facing financial hardship will have sufficient income and receive the financial support they are entitled to.
- Costs – Older people facing financial hardship are protected from unfair or unavoidable costs.
- Housing – Older people facing financial hardship are supported to live in safe, secure, and suitable housing with the care and support they need.
In addition, Independent Age seeks to work in partnership to help achieve the following organisational outcomes:
- Improved organisational capacity to provide support to older women from racially minoritised groups facing financial hardship.
- Increase in specialised skills and knowledge in financial support and advice for older women from racially minoritised groups facing inequalities and financial hardship.
Groups must have an annual income of between £100,000 and £1 million. Priority will be given to groups where at least 50% of their trustees and staff represent racially minoritised groups or women, and groups that can demonstrate high levels of need in their locality.
Funding can be used flexibly to invest in project delivery and broader organisational support, and groups are encouraged to include a proportional contribution to overheads where appropriate.
There is a two-stage application process. Groups must first submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI) before being invited to complete a full application.