Age UK
Following our Summer Cheer campaign partnering with Iceland and Age UK, the Rothesay Foundation supported Age UK to offer a free and confidential benefits check service for Summer Cheer participants and other older people in need. This vital service helped more than 4,500 participants find out whether they were eligible for welfare benefits and identified on average an extra £6,600 of benefits each year for those who were eligible (76% of those who used the service funded by the Foundation). In total, the programme identified approximately £23 million of annual benefits for older people living in need.
Building on this success, the Foundation has provided additional funding to Age UK to significantly expand its benefits check service. In 2024, we committed £2.47 million to grow the service and in 2025, a further £160,000 to extend it into Scotland and more of Wales. The service aims to identify a further £63 million by the end of 2026, supporting over 12,000 older people via their national Advice Line and local Age UK branches. Dedicated support teams guide older people through the application process, including assistance with completing forms. The funding also enables Age UK to follow up with older people on the progress and outcome of their claims, ensuring that they receive the help they need to successfully navigate the benefits process.
