Grants to charities, Later life, Loneliness
Alleviating loneliness for older people with serious health conditions
An additional 50 older people from across Leeds with serious health conditions will be able to stay in their homes thanks to a grant from Yorkshire, West Riding Freemasons to the Hawksworth Older Peoples’ Support (HOPS) charity.
The £15,000 grant was welcomed by the charity who are struggling to cope with an increasing demand for their services after a reduction in the level of Council funding.
HOPS runs a weekly programme of health-related and social activities at Hawksworth Wood Village Hall, Leeds, including line dancing, coffee mornings, luncheon clubs, and provision of excursions.
The charity also assists with form-filling and benefit applications as well as acting as an advocate for their members with statutory agencies and utility companies.
The majority of HOPS current 160 members are aged from their mid-60s through until their late-90s. Many of them live alone and are dependent on state benefits. Some of the members suffer from serious, age-related illnesses and without the charity would be socially isolated, lonely, and depressed.
We’re really grateful to Yorkshire Freemasons for their generous grant, which will make a huge difference to our members as they face up to the cuts in council funding. We know from feedback delivered from families and carers that attending HOPS sessions produces growth in confidence, and sense of self-worth and the joy of belonging for our members. This, in turn, reduces the stress on existing front-line services, including both social and medical care.
As Freemasons we are proud to back the wonderful work being delivered by Hawksworth Older Peoples’ Support and other charities in the sector. Helping older people in our society is a major priority for us and we realise how important it is for them to be able to remain in their own homes when they are ill.
