Skipton Building Society has partnered with Age UK

Age UK was chosen by Skipton Building Society members in 2024 as its charity partner for three years. Each year, Skipton donates 1% of its pre-tax Group profit to charities aligned with its values and purpose.

A Place to Call Home is delivered by 11 local Age UKs and aims to provide one-to-one holistic advice to 5,500 older people, helping them live independently in safe, secure and warm homes. It also seeks to identify £11 million in unclaimed benefits.

Since launching in October 2024, the project has supported 1,242 older people, identifying £4.6 million in unclaimed annual benefits. Among 760 older service users identified as eligible for benefits, the average entitlement was £5,499 per person per year. The most common benefits claimed include Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit.

The programme has handled 6,448 enquiries averaging five per service user - with support ranging from benefits advice (56%), care and support (9%), aids and adaptations (6%) to housing options (2%), and loneliness/isolation support (2%).

Skipton’s funding so far has helped to cover the costs of 14,000 calls made to Age UK’s free national Advice Line, which offers specialist information and advice 365 days a year to help older people who are most in need, struggling with complicated later life issues and often in crisis. Every day, hundreds of vulnerable older people, their family members, and carers, call the Advice Line to speak to Age UK’s specialist advisers.

The funding has also been used to carry out research into the impact of the cost-of-living crisis and how it is impacting the lives and spending habits of older households. In a recent report, Age UK warns groups of older people are still struggling with the cost of living, with the situation worse than last year. Older disabled people, older renters and those living on low and modest incomes are most affected. One in 3 (34%) – equivalent to 4.1 million older people – said they felt less financially secure heading into 2025 compared to when 2024 began.

David Travis, group secretary and general counsel at the Skipton Group said: “Age UK was chosen by our members to receive funding over a three-year period. This funding will help provide vital information, advice, support and friendship for older people – including those living in poverty or in deprived communities.

“Our funding will directly support some of the most vulnerable people in society. We’re proud to be working with Age UK to deliver bespoke support to some of those most in need and continue to campaign and raise awareness around the most pressing issues impacting older people.”

Delivery methods for A Place to Call Home include 50% home visits, 36% phone consultations, and 11% face-to-face sessions outside the home. Additionally, 550 clients were referred to other services such as local councils, the Department for Work and Pensions and housing and health providers.

The older people who were supported range from age 50 to over 90 years old, with the majority aged 70-79 and a 57% female to 43% male split.
Paul Farmer, CEO at Age UK, said: “It’s a tough time right now and the funding Skipton are giving to us will help us support thousands of older people. Skipton really understand the challenges that older people are facing and seeing the difference that their funding is enabling us to make to older people to help them feel safe in their communities, but critically feel safe at home, is very rewarding.”

One of the older people Age UK supported via the tailored advice sessions said: “It’s been an absolute Godsend. You did what you said you would do, and quickly too. You really care. Life is much easier getting round the house. It has helped with my confidence.

“I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders and I can sleep better at night; you’ve helped me clear my debts and get rid of my financial worries by supporting me with council tax and housing benefits.”