To think that Age UK should not be moving their goalposts.

[Touchwood2654]

So our local Age UK now supports anyone over 16. Talk about diluting services. What is the point of them if they are not supporting just those over 55?

We are a rapidly aging population and the elderly are often overlooked when services are planned.
Surely Age UK's meagre resources will now be stretched very thinly?
AIBU to think this is a wrong move?

I would very much like identifier as a boomer and to have their assets, Where do I sign?

You don’t believe young carers should receive support? 😳

I'd need to know what services they're actually providing for young people before I form an opinion, but that's just me.

As a charity, they have to work within their objectives which on the charity commission website appears to only relate to “older people”. However, their latest trustees report notes includes “together with, if considered appropriate, other individuals and groups who are not older people”.

They updated their memorandum of association in 2021, but seem to have forgotten to actually file it anywhere - I assume this would cover the change to include people who are not “older”

Really?! That's bonkers!

Before dismissing this as "bonkers"...

There are many children and young people who act as carers to a parent. They need support and sign posting, too.

Age UK City of London amended their governing document in 2022:

Articles of Association, amended 2022:

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bp-assets/globalassets/city-of-london/volunteer-roles/trustee-roles/age-concern-city-of-london-articles-of-association-amended-12.07.2022.pdf

Age UK on the Charity Commission site:

https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/3990720/governing-document

Charitable objects
THE OBJECTS OF THE CHARITY ARE TO PROMOTE THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND/OR OLDER PEOPLE WITHIN THE AREA OF BENEFIT: 3.1.1 PREVENTING OR RELIEVING THE POVERTY OF OLDER PEOPLE; 3.1.2 ADVANCING EDUCATION; 3.1.3 PREVENTING OR RELIEVING SICKNESS, DISEASE OR SUFFERING IN OLDER PEOPLE (WHETHER EMOTIONAL, MENTAL OR PHYSICAL); 3.1.4 PROMOTING EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY; 3.1.5 PROMOTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF OLDER PEOPLE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS; 3.1.6 ASSISTING OLDER PEOPLE IN NEED BY REASON OF ILL-HEALTH, SOCIAL EXCLUSION OR OTHER DISADVANTAGE; AND 3.1.7 SUCH OTHER CHARITABLE PURPOSES FOR THE BENEFIT OF OLDER PEOPLE AS THE CHARITY TRUSTEES FROM TIME TO TIME DECIDE; THE OUTCOME OF THIS BEING THE PROMOTION OF THE WELL-BEING OF OLDER PEOPLE.

Clause 3.1.7 could feasibly cover offering support/signposting to younger people who are carers for older relatives.

It was Age Concern Islington that I looked at based on the linked website above. It would make sense that they both made the same change

No, they have a separate team to support Carers.

The Age UK advice line is open to over 16’s.
Age UK services remain for the over 50’s.
I don’t see a problem at all in providing phone support to those who may have concerns about elderly relatives. Perhaps they may be helping them access support.

That was the way I read the website too. Seems fine to me.

Helping more people is surely a good thing.

They've done it to increase their meagre resources. They're a charity that needs to compete for funding with other charities. The age restriction on service provision narrows the pool of potential funding pots they can apply for, so they needed to widen their scope to be eligible for more contracts. By 'selling' services to funders who want to include other age groups, such as local councils they generate more income towards helping older people.

Yes, this - advice and signposting for those who work with/support/care for/are worried about older people. It's an obvious place for them to go as well. I'm sure plenty of people use the NSPCC website who aren't parents - they are people working with/supporting/caring for/or who are worried about children.