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

Age UK Sheffield 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 Sheffield 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.

Mark Eggleston, Senior Project Lead at Age UK Sheffield, said: " We're thrilled to be receiving two more years of funding to deliver dedicated advice and support with scams and fraud to older people in Sheffield. We know from speaking to our service users 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 95,000 people aged 65+ in Yorkshire are victims of scams in a year[ii] , so it’s vital that we continue to support those at greater risk.

This additional funding will allow us to keep thousands more older people in Sheffield as safe as possible from financial crime."

To find out more about the scams support available through Age UK Sheffield, please visit our Support & Information Sessions page or contact: 0114 250 2850

Age UK Sheffield provides free information & advice, dementia services and community wellbeing activities to support older people to live well in Sheffield.

[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