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.
