Service name: The Connect Project
Service description
Age UK Hammersmith & Fulham delivers the Connect Project, with funding from H&F Council. The service includes a lunch club café, IT training for older people, information and advice, a weekly programme of physical and mental activities, talks and workshops, befriending and small jobs and services, from shopping to light gardening.
Information and advice - 30 minute telephone appointments available to book, subject to availability, covering the following areas of advice: Welfare Benefits, Employment, Housing, Consumer, Debt and Basic Immigration queries. To book, call: 020 7386 9085
Shopping Service - Escorted minibus shopping service five days a week. To book, email sophie@ageukhf.org.uk or call: 07538 327 734
Digital Inclusion Project - Digital Champions are available to provide 1-2-1 digital support over the phone. Sessions are 30-minutes long. Can also provide video link session over zoom upon request. To book, email digital@ageukhf.org.uk or call: 020 7386 9085.
Funded until
30 September 2023
Annual funding level
£160,000
In the past year
Isolated Buddy Service - Personal Grocery Service, Telephone Befriending and Prescription Assistance This service helps older members of society unable to leave their homes and without support of friends, family and neighbours. For people who are housebound and in desperate need only. Those enrolled on the scheme are matched to a local 'Isolation Buddy Volunteer' who offers the following essential services for the duration of the coronavirus period: - 1 x Grocery Shop per week up to the value of £20 cash, which they give the volunteer along with their personalised list. - 2 x Weekly Befriending Telephone calls. - Assistance setting up electronic prescriptions - delivered to the door
Befriending Provides companionship through regular phone calls and, where possible, walks and outdoor meetings. Currently at capacity but if you would like some support in the future, please get in touch with emily@ageukhf.org.uk
Number of residents supported
Over 1000
Use of volunteers
The service's 312 volunteers delivered 2184 hours of work. This is the equivalent to £23,696, if the London Living Wage is applied to the volunteering hours.
Outcomes being achieved
In 2020, the service was:
- Making a positive difference to the lives of older people in our community by reducing loneliness and isolation
- Working with older residents to identify their needs, design and deliver innovative and effective services and work with like-minded parties to extend effectiveness in wider communities
- Encouraging healthy ageing and enabling social interaction
- Being a trusted advisor to older people
- Proactively identifying and prioritising the needs of older people
- Leading the local older people agenda
- Generating sustainable funding
Funding raised
£173,000 (approximately)
Future plans
- To work more in collaboration with others
- To work in the north and south of the borough
- To expand digital inclusion work