Thank you for standing with older people across East Sussex
Every day, older people in our communities face practical challenges that can quickly become overwhelming. Forms that are impossible to decipher. Systems that are hard to navigate. Worries about money, care, or where to turn next.
Thanks to your generosity, Age UK East Sussex was there to listen, to guide, and to help. This article is a way of saying thank you, and of showing how your support made a real difference during 2025.
A year of listening, time, and practical help
Last year, our Information, Support and Befriending services teams recorded 29,976 contacts with older people across East Sussex. Behind each contact was a conversation, a question answered, a concern resolved. Or a moment where someone needed reassurance.
In total, we spent 410,062 minutes supporting clients, offering time, patience, and clear advice. While not all our work is captured in the figures, these numbers give a sense of the scale of what your donations help make possible.
We supported a further 20,000 people via our Declutter/House Clearance and Healthy Living Centres.
Stay connected
You can join our free Connect Service and have our up-to-date information and advice delivered to your inbox on a monthly basis.
Reaching people at different points in their lives
In 2025, we supported people in many different circumstances.
- We helped 2,348 new clients, often people reaching out for the first time.
- We continued to support 1,015 existing clients, many with ongoing or complex needs.
- We also provided basic information and signposting to 824 anonymous clients, ensuring no one was turned away.
- We supported a further 20,000 people via our Declutter/House Clearance and Healthy Living Centres.
For some, help came in a single conversation. For others, it involved ongoing support over weeks or months. One of those people was Harry.
Harry's story
Harry had been caring for his wife during a very difficult period in their lives.
When he was introduced to Age UK East Sussex, he did not expect us to be able to come up with much. He was unsure whether he would qualify for any help at all. With support from our Information and Advice team, Harry was guided through applications for Attendance Allowance and a Blue Badge.
Without that help, he believes he would not have completed the forms correctly, or at all.
Turning figures into financial security
Thanks to donor support, we helped older people secure £412,308 per year in new benefits in 2025.
We also supported clients to receive £121,461 in backdated benefit payments.
For the older people we support, this money is not about luxuries. It is about stability. It helps cover everyday costs, manage household tasks, and reduce anxiety about finances.
Harry described the impact simply: “It just takes a worry away. You don’t have to worry about money as much anymore. It makes life feel a bit more normal.”
That sense of relief is at the heart of why this work is so important.
Everyday support that prevents bigger problems
Not every issue involves a benefits claim. Much of our work is about helping people understand their options before a problem escalates.
Last year, we made 4,720 signpostings to other services and organisations.
We completed 500 external referrals, connecting people with specialist support when needed.
We also distributed 1,980 information publications, helping people access clear,
trusted guidance. Often, this early support prevents stress from turning into crisis.
Who we support across East Sussex
Your donations help older people from all walks of life. More than 68% of our clients were aged 75 or over, with nearly 38% aged 85 and above.
Over 57% live alone, making access to advice and reassurance even more
important. We supported people across every part of East Sussex, including Wealden, Hastings, Rother, Eastbourne, Lewes, and beyond the county boundary when needed.
Looking ahead with gratitude
These figures only tell part of the story. They cannot capture the relief someone feels when they realise they are not alone. Or the confidence that comes from having someone explain things clearly, without judgement or pressure.
What they do show is this. Your support helps older people live more comfortably, more independently, and with dignity.
On behalf of everyone at Age UK East Sussex, and the thousands of older people you helped last year, thank you. We look forward to continuing this work together in the year ahead.
Want to get involved?
There are so many ways you can support us.