GrantRadar

Friends of the Elderly

Friends of the Elderly Grants Programme

Friends of the Elderly gives small grants to individual older people over state pension age in England and Wales who are on a low income with savings under £4,000, to help with essentials. This is a grant to individuals, not organisations: applications come either from a professional referral agent (such as Age UK, Citizens Advice, a social worker or housing association) on the person's behalf, or from the older person themselves via the Lightning Reach portal. Grants are normally up to £600 (£300 for essential living costs, £700 for joint household applications), with a small number up to £1,000.

Apply on the funder’s site
You could get
Up to £1,000
no fixed round
Deadline
Rolling
apply any time
Effort
Light
short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

  • Individual older people (not organisations) who are resident in England or Wales; living in privately owned, privately rented, sheltered or social housing but not residential care or a nursing home; of UK state pension age (both partners for joint applications); on a low income (up to 20% above the Minimum Income Standard, e.g. receiving Guaranteed Pension Credit or Universal Credit) with savings under £4,000 (£5,000 joint); and unable to get help from employment-based benevolent funds (people with armed forces connections should contact SSAFA first)
  • Applications are made either by a professional or community referral agent (local authority, social services, charities, housing associations, Citizens Advice, Age UK, health teams, faith centres, etc.; not friends or family) or by the older person themselves online via Lightning Reach

What it funds

Four grant streams for older people on low incomes:

  • Home Essentials (replacing everyday items such as white goods and furnishings, small home repairs and mobility adaptations)
  • Digital Connection (tablets, smartphones, broadband and data costs)
  • Financial Support (unexpected bills and large costs such as utility bills, funeral costs for loved ones and moving fees)
  • Essential Living Costs (clothing, food, medicines, books, travel to medical appointments or other activities)

Maximum £600 for Digital Connection, Home Essentials or Financial Support and £300 for Essential Living Costs; combined requests up to £600; joint household applications up to £700 (£360 for essential living costs); occasionally up to £1,000 by prior agreement.

What it will not fund

  • Items that should reasonably be provided by statutory services (unless statutory options are exhausted)
  • Large-cost items without a viable plan to cover the rest of the costs
  • Holidays, travel outside the UK, or use outside the UK
  • Goods already purchased, except emergencies paid for less than 3 months before applying
  • Council tax, mortgage or rent arrears (normally), unless an exceptional one-off missed payment
  • General credit card debt (normally), unless for an unexpected bill that fits the criteria
  • Items where the older person is not the main beneficiary
  • The applicant's own funeral costs
  • Fast-track or emergency grants
  • People living in residential care or a nursing home
  • More than one grant per household in any 12-month period

How to apply

  1. Check eligibility against the guidance notes (for referral agents or for older people)
  2. Route 1: a professional referral agent registers on the Friends of the Elderly referral agent portal and completes the seven-section application on the client's behalf (or emails back the Word form)
  3. Route 2: an older person able to apply online creates a profile on the Lightning Reach portal via the Friends of the Elderly link and uploads their evidence
  4. Include a quote, bill or link to the item requested, and payment details
  5. Grants approvals take place about twice a month; the referral agent or applicant is told the outcome and payment is made at approval

Postal applications are not accepted; people who cannot apply online need a referral agent (see 'Finding a referral agent').

The programme may close temporarily if funds run low; the website states whether it is open.

Requests for a grant above £600 (up to £1,000) should be checked by email first.

Have ready

  • Quote, bill, or link to the item requested
  • Evidence of low income such as Guaranteed Pension Credit, Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits
  • Two months of recent bank statements for all current and savings accounts (seen by the referral agent, or uploaded/open banking via Lightning Reach)
  • Bank details for payment
  • Signed consent/declaration from the older person, or a professional declaration from the referral agent

Referral agents declare they have seen the financial evidence rather than sending it.

More like this

Other grants open to organisations like yours.