The Somerset Older People’s Fund
We created The Somerset Older People’s Fund to raise vital funds to support vulnerable older people across Somerset. When you donate, you’ll join others to make an even greater impact with your giving.
The charities and projects we support are guided by our research and consultation with local older people and community groups. That means your donation supports what really matters and will make a lasting difference in people’s lives.
Your donations will help ensure that more older people in Somerset can live happy, healthy and fulfilling later lives.
Our funding priorities
Local people understand their communities best. That’s why our Fund is shaped by research and consultation with the people and organisations making a difference in Somerset.
As a result, we’re committed to these 3 priorities:
- Increasing the variety of low-cost, inclusive and enriching activities to reduce loneliness and isolation in older people.
- Improving transport provision for older people living in rural and coastal areas.
- Increasing support for older people suffering from dementia and their carers.
Our supporters
Founding Donors:
- Donald Lake
Donors:
- Maureen Whitmore
- AW Midgley & Son Ltd
Why Somerset’s older people need your support
Older people make up a quarter of our county’s population. They’re the fastest-growing group – which means by 2036 a third of Somerset is predicted to be over 65.
Our county is a beautiful place to live. But not everyone gets the chance to age well. Isolation, loneliness and dementia are growing problems. And they can feel even worse for people living in remote places without support or reliable public transport.
Here in Somerset:
- Almost 20% of older people live in poverty.
- 30,000 older people live alone and a third feel lonely at least some of the time.
- 1 in 24 adults over the age of 65 lives with dementia – and there’s a steady increase in diagnoses.
Talk to us about the Somerset Older people’s Fund
If you’d like to know more about The Somerset Older People’s Fund and how you, your company or charitable trust could support the Fund, get in touch. We’d be delighted to tell you more.
30,000 older people live alone and a third feel lonely at least some of the time.
Wivey Cares supports any older residents who need it. It grew from within our community, who have taken control of it themselves. Our carers provide company, help with cooking and personal care. There’s an unspoken bond between carers and clients: they’re invested in the community and go the extra mile. We couldn’t have achieved all we have without SCF who pump-primed the project to get it going then supported us to keep it going.
David
Founder, Wivey Cares
