Emanuel Hospital Charity

Age UK is deeply grateful for the generous support of the Emanuel Hospital Charity.

Established in 1600 and now administered by the City of London Corporation, this historic charity has played a vital role in supporting older Londoners. Between 2021 and 2025, the Charity donated over £980,000, enabling local Age UKs to be there for older people in need across the capital.

There for older Londoners in challenging times

At a time when local services were struggling in the wake of the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis was causing distress and anxiety for the older generation, the Emanuel Hospital Charity provided a much-needed funding boost to local Age UKs working across London. The Older Londoners’ Programme (2021 – 2025), enabled the 22 local Age UKs in the capital to bolster their vital information advice provision and safeguard their community support – when demand for these services had never been higher.

With this funding, the local Age UKs were able to provide a lifeline to older people experiencing hardship. Local Advisers, embedded in the community, worked with older people to address their problems, identify and apply for welfare benefits, and navigate the housing, health, and social care systems that can so often feel overwhelming. The local Age UKs also received unrestricted support to be able to meet their own rising costs, helping them to keep their doors open and continue to offer a range of community services, like befriending support and exercise classes.

Over 5,000 older people were supported directly through the partnership, and an estimated £4.2 million in annual welfare benefits identified for some of the most financially disadvantaged older Londoners. This is money that can make all the difference to staying warm and coping over the harsh winter months.

Guiding older Londoners towards a more secure future - just like Janet.

We know from the feedback received what a difference this programme has made to the lives of the older people supported, like 79-year-old Janet. When Janet got in touch with Age UK Lewisham and Southwark, she was living alone and struggling with worsening health conditions. She told staff that she used to enjoy volunteering and attending community events but was finding this harder as her mobility declines and without the spare funds to pay for taxis. This left Janet feeling isolated and increasingly frustrated.

An adviser from Age UK Lewisham and Southwark visited Janet at her housing association property to discuss her needs and welfare rights, and she was supported to complete an application form for Attendance Allowance, which was successful.

This alone boosted her income, but the team then identified that she could qualify for Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and full Housing Benefit, paving the way for other entitlements such as a free TV license and help with her health costs.

Janet now has all of her rent covered by Housing Benefit, and a boost to her income each week through her Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance, enabling her to cover additional expenses to make her life easier, like help with travel, shopping and cleaning. Janet said:

“It's not much extra money, but I feel like a millionaire! Now I can afford those little bits I need.”

Thank you to everyone at the Emanuel Hospital Charity and the City of London Corporation for making the Older Londoners’ Programme possible.