Age UK Northumberland secures further funding to provide scams and fraud support to older people

Age UK Northumberland secures further funding to provide scams and fraud support to older people

Age UK Northumberland has secured a further two years of funding for their Scams Prevention and Support Programme, enabling the Charity to continue providing this vital service for older people in Northumberland until the end of 2027.

The programme, funded through Lloyds Banking Group, helps prevent older people from falling victim to scams by increasing their knowledge and confidence to recognise and report attempted scams. Now in its fifth year, the programme delivers tailored one-to-one support alongside group awareness sessions that explore how different scams work, common warning signs and practical steps older people can take to protect themselves. It also provides dedicated support to those who have already been affected by scams and fraud, helping to rebuild confidence, reduce fear and prevent repeat victimisation.

Fraudulent schemes have evolved dramatically into the most prevalent crime against individuals, accounting for over 40% of all crimes in England and Wales[i]. Older people are especially vulnerable to the harms caused by scams and fraud, which can both have serious consequences beyond just the financial impact, affecting emotional and physical wellbeing and overall quality of life.

Amy Whyte, CEO at Age UK Northumberland said: " We're delighted that we can continue this project for a further two years delivering dedicated advice and support with scams and fraud to older people in Northumberland. We know from speaking to our service clients just how devastating the effects of scams can be on older people, often leaving them unsure who to trust, reluctant to use technology and worried about their safety. Two people aged 65+ are scammed every minute in England and Wales, and 38,000 people aged 65+ in the North East were victims of scams in a year[ii] , so it’s vital that we continue to support those at greater risk.

“The programme has played a vital role locally, empowering older people across Northumberland to recognise common scams, access trusted advice, and receive practical support and referrals to specialist organisations when they’ve been targeted.” This additional funding will allow us to keep thousands more older people in Northumberland as safe as possible from financial crime."

An anonymous client who reached out to the Scams Team at Age UK Northumberland said, "Before speaking to the team, I didn’t realise how little knowledge I had of the clever ways scammers can trick us into handing over our lifesavings. The team listened to my concerns without judgement and helped me understand the warning signs to hopefully prevent me from falling victim to a scam. I feel much more confident now and know what to look out for if something doesn’t seem right."

To find out more about the scams support available through Age UK Northumberland, please visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk/northumberland/about-us/scams-awareness/ or contact: scams@ageuk-northumberland.org.uk.

Age UK Northumberland provides Scams Awareness, Advocacy, Information & Advice, Home Care, Bereavement Counselling, Health & Wellbeing, Live Well with Dementia Groups, Social Groups, Veterans Groups, Kinship Care Group, Prostate Group, a Friendship Line and Volunteering opportunities, if you’d like further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

[i] Crime Survey for England and Wales, 01 October 2023 to 30 September 2024.

[ii] Number of people aged 65+ who responded ‘yes’ when asked whether they had been victims of scams in the previous 12 months in 2023/24. Age UK analysis of data drawn from the Crime Survey for England and Wales 2023/24, scaled up to the England and Wales population using ONS mid-year population estimates for 2024.