By Isle of Wight Observer
A £20,000 grant is set to make a lasting impact on older residents across the Island, as Age UK IW celebrates a major funding boost for its award-winning Good Neighbour Scheme (GNS).
The funding comes courtesy of a record-breaking £5.2 million, raised through a luxury house raffle organised by Omaze in support of Age UK nationwide. Age UK IW, an independent partner of the national charity, successfully secured its share through an application process.
The funds will be directed towards the “No Home for Loneliness Programme 2025–2026”, which aims to tackle isolation among residents aged 50 and over. The charity has pledged to deliver 26,666 hours of support across the Island during the twoyear programme. Cally Trott, at Age UK IW, said: “This money doesn’t come automatically, it takes real effort to apply for and secure grants like this. We’re thrilled this funding will help re-connect older Islanders with their communities.”
Last year the GNS supported 174 people a month, offering nearly 4,000 home visits and over 5,000 befriending calls.
One story illustrates the success of the scheme – Linda, recently widowed and living alone, was matched with GNS volunteer Isla. In just a few months, Linda went from feeling totally housebound to attending local events on her own, a testament to the scheme’s positive impact.