Adopt a Grandparent

Adopt a Grandparent was set up in 2019 with the objective of lessening isolation for older people and providing positive befriending relationships with young people – similar to a grandparent/grandchild. It began within a care home in Surrey, and during the pandemic as visits to care homes were curtailed, the scheme was adapted with an appeal for volunteers to ‘virtually adopt a grandparent’.  With a huge surge of interest, the charity developed a fully safeguarded AI-supported virtual friendship platform, and the work grew.  It now works across the UK.

A grant of £8,000 split over two years was agreed by Trustees at the October 2025 meeting.  This is made towards general running costs of the charity.  Anticipated outcomes of the charity’s work are that both the care home residents and the volunteers who connect with them will have reduced loneliness, improved wellbeing, and feel more connected.

www.adoptagrandparent.org.uk

 

/by

TLC Inverness

This charity works with the local community in the Merkinch area of Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland.  TLC (Tender Loving Care) Inverness was set up during the pandemic to provide help for local people and to improve wellbeing.  It runs projects that benefit families, children and young people, and also access to advice, support, and a range of other services at its venue.

In October 2025, the Allen Lane Foundation made a grant of £6,000, split over a three-year period (£2,000 per annum) to TLC Inverness.  This is specifically towards the charity’s work with older people. The Brew & Blether group meets on Monday afternoons, and offers a warm space where people can drop-in, have a cup of tea and join in doing some activities such as playing dominoes and crafting.  Around 30-60 people attend each week, with the majority being aged over 70.   The charity also delivers some special events and talks for the attendees and hopes to increase these over the period.  Outcome of the work are that older people feel less lonely, more connected, and have improved wellbeing.

www.tlcinverness.org

 

/by

DERIC Youth & Community Project

This charity works from the village of Bearpark, a few miles west of Durham, and provides a range of community services and activities.  It runs an open community drop-in, twice-weekly youth clubs, specific activities for older people, as well as advice and guidance sessions, ad-hoc and celebration events and monthly outings.

At the Foundation’s June 2025 meeting, Trustees agreed a grant of £5,000.  This is a contribution to the costs of activities with older people, including the new Craic, Craft & Cake sessions that will be delivered each week.  The sessions are targeted to older people aged 70+, and will include wellbeing activities and arts and crafting in a fun and informal group.  The intended outcomes are that the participants will benefit from increased social interaction, and improved wellbeing, self-esteem and confidence.

 

/by

The Autumn Centre

The Autumn Centre is based in the coastal town of Brightlingsea between Colchester and Clacton-on-Sea. It is run by local volunteers, many of whom have been involved for some years – the charity itself has been established since 1995. Proceeds from its charity shop help to fund two weekly lunch clubs and social interaction for older people in the area.

The Allen Lane Foundation Trustees agreed a grant of £2,000 at their June 2025 meeting. This is to contribute towards running costs of the lunch clubs. The clubs provide a hot two-course meal, and minibuses are used to enable older, more frail people to attend. There are around 100 members, though not all attend every week, a typical attendance would be 35 at the Alresford Club on Tuesdays, and 40 at the Brightlingsea club on Fridays. Overall the clubs help to reduce loneliness and social isolation, and improve the health and wellbeing of older people.

/by

Harmony & Health Singers

Harmony & Health Singers is a group for people to come together and feel the benefits of singing together.  It meets twice a week in different locations in the coastal town of Fleetwood in Lancashire and around 100 people each week benefit, the majority of whom are older people.  The group aims to contribute to both physical and social wellbeing and also as a way to reduce loneliness, and for some people reduce appointments at local GP surgeries.  In addition to rehearsing, the singers perform at various locations throughout the year, including at residential and care homes, where residents are encouraged to join in.

The Group received funding from the Allen Lane Foundation in February 2025. This was for £2,000 as a contribution towards the rent of space for rehearsals.

/by

West Hull Community Hub

West Hull Community Hub is a constituted group that was established in 2021. It aims to address social exclusion and support vulnerable individuals, especially older adults and carers in one of the most deprived parts of Hull.  Key activities include weekly Warm Welcome sessions with a hot meal and activities, coffee mornings, drop-in advice service and social activities. At least 80% of those attending are elderly.

In February 2025, the Foundation’s trustees agreed funding of £7,000 split over a two-year period. The grant is towards the annual costs of delivering sessions and associated activities, as well as to increase staffing capacity. It is expected that up to 400 older people will benefit.  Intended outcomes are that older people are more connected and develop lasting friendships; they and their carers understand the support and services available to them to live better; and that they have a more active role in creating a cohesive society.

www.westhullcommunityhub.org.uk

 

/by

Older People’s Advocacy Alliance

Older People’s Advocacy Alliance is based in Sandwell in the West Midlands, but works on a national basis.  It offers bespoke advocacy support, mostly for older people who have reached an impasse to resolve a problem and it is impacting their mental health.  The charity receives around 500 enquires for support annually, with 200 of these being considered more ‘complex cases’.  Cases vary, with largest numbers relating to housing issues, debt, and adaptations.

At the October 2024 meeting of Trustees, the Allen Lane Foundation agreed funding of £3,500.  The grant is to contribute towards the core costs of the charity, including increasing the hours of the Operational Lead to cover the increasing numbers of complex enquiries. Outcomes for the work are to assist older people with advocacy support to satisfactorily resolve issues; and that people assisted report improved mental wellbeing as a result.

www.opaal.org.uk

 

/by

Feed the Birds

Feed the Birds operates across areas of Shropshire, in various towns and villages.  It offers a nature-based befriending service that aims to alleviate loneliness and isolation of older people, including those with dementia.  The charity provides clients with bird feeders, food, and a trained volunteer who visits with them once a week to their home, to develop a befriending relationship and to fill and maintain the feeders.  Around 50 clients are currently supported, each benefitting from a friendly visit and conversation with their befriender. Most clients are referred from local health and social care professionals, mental health teams or via the charity’s visits to community groups and day centres.

In October 2024 the Foundation agreed funding of £5,933 to Feed the Birds. The request was for a contribution towards the part-time coordinator role. Outcomes over the coming year are that the charity will be able to increase the number of clients and volunteers to meet demand; that support will be expanded within and beyond Shopshire into other areas of need; and that the coordinator will continue employment, potentially moving to a full-time basis.

 

/by

The Wainman Trust

The Wainman Trust operates day centre facilities for elderly people in the Clifton and Arnold areas of Nottingham.  Three ‘clubs’ are run each week at two different venues, and offer a range of activities as well as a hot lunch and refreshments.  Members are aged between 72 and 99 years, and many have a physical or mental health support need such as early-stage dementia.  The clubs promote improved health and wellbeing, offering a safe and welcoming place to socialise and take part in crafts, games and chair exercises. The provision also enables families and carers some respite, knowing their partner or family member is being looked after and engaged.

Funding of £10,000 split over a three-year period was awarded at the June 2024 Allen Lane Foundation Trustee meeting.  This is contributing towards the running costs of the sessions with older people.  Anticipated outcomes of the work are that members will have reduced isolation and loneliness; their physical and mental wellbeing will be improved; and that they will have an improved quality of life and prolonged independence.

www.wainmantrust.co.uk

 

/by

Ormlie Community Association

This organisation is based in Thurso in the far north of Scotland.  It is open seven days a week delivering projects and social hubs for the local community including for parents and toddlers, families and older adults.  Around 100 people benefit each week.

The Allen Lane Foundation has awarded funding of £5,304 to the Association in June 2024.  The grant will cover six hours per week of a support worker to deliver projects specifically aimed at older people. Three sessions each week will be run, each benefitting around 20 older people. These will be a craft-based session, and exercise provision, and a session focussing on education and developing digital skills.  Expected outcomes from the projects are that older people will feel less isolated and supported; and that they will be more informed and have a sense of identity and inclusion.

www.ormlie.org

 

 

/by