For our latest community story, we are back in Lincolnshire, where Luke Upton chatted to Andy Storer, CEO, Age UK Lindsey to find out more about the work in their community and what the recent grant from National Grid’s Community Matters Fund (Fuel Poverty) will be delivering this Winter.

Luke Upton (LU): Thanks for speaking to us today, Andy, could you start by telling us some more about the community you serve in East Lindsey, West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire? And why your support is needed. 

Andy Storer (AS): No problem, Luke, Age UK Lindsey have been delivering services for older people in East Lindsey, West Lindsey and North Lincolnshire for almost 35 years, tackling loneliness, isolation and poverty and promoting equality and diversity. The communities we serve have high health inequalities with some of the worst health outcomes in England, especially along the coast. Due to the rural and coastal nature of the area we serve, social isolation and loneliness is very high, which is why we want to offer support to vulnerable older people during the winter months.

LU: What’s been your particular focus in recent years?

AS: In recent years we have focused on offering support to the most vulnerable and have delivered services that offer direct, practical help; such as our Winter Warmth packs and our Home Energy checks and Benefit checks.  We also offer Information, Signposting and Advice and have secured almost 3 million pounds of unclaimed benefits during the last 12 months.

LU: You’ve just received funding from the Community Matters Fund from National Grid and Localgiving. Can you tell us some more about the project it will help fund and what it aims to deliver.

AS: The funding will help us continue to deliver important services during the winter months, and particularly our Winter Warmth packs.  The packs are a practical resource to help older people who cannot heat their homes to keep warm and contain a fleece blankets, hats and gloves, a flask, draft excluders and food and drink supplies.  We know from the response we receive that older people really value this type of practical support.

LU: How important is this kind of funding to your organisation?

AS: The Community Matter Fund is vital to us. Times are very hard for smaller charities and without the support of this kind of funding, we would not be able to offer support for the most vulnerable older people.  We know that support to help older people in winter can help reduce stress and protect mental and physical health and keep older people safe, warm and well. The team here are committed and passionate about improving the lives of vulnerable older people by ensuring we offer support during the winter months. 

As we get older the winter can feel much harder and especially now with the cost-of-living crisis where older people are having to make the choice between eating and heating.  We want to offer practical help this winter which is why the funding from the Community Matters Fund from National Grid and Localgiving, is so important. So, a big thank you!  Together we can help keep older people safe, warm and well this winter

LU: As we always like to ask, more money aside, what would help you most? 

AS: The help of volunteers to make and distribute the packs is vital.  Volunteers are the ‘lifeblood’ of our charity and make such a difference when we are delivering support to the most vulnerable in our communities. And just to reiterate, we are incredibly grateful for the support we have received from the Community Matters Fund from National Grid and Localgiving in our mission to help older people stay safe, warm and well during the winter.  We know that many older people dread the winter months, but we are determined to make later life better, and the funding will help us to do this!

LU: Great, thanks Andy, thanks for taking time to share some of your fantastic work.

 ---> Learn more about Age UK Lindsey by clicking here