Funding secured for FirstStop Advice service

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) today confirmed a grant to Elderly Accommodation Counsel (EAC) to fund its FirstStop service.

Announcing the award, Communities Minister Bob Neil said:

"As we all get older, we still want to retain our independence and our home and it is one of the Coalition Government's aims to enable people to do this.

But we all know that housing choices in later life are often complex and so the Government is helping by supporting the provision of information and advice from those best able to provide it. That is why today I am announcing the £1.5million funding for FirstStop."

FirstStop offers expert advice and support to older people, their families, carers on housing, care, money and rights. It is a national service, delivered in partnership with specialist providers and local partners, including local authorities, home improvement agencies, older people's charities and older people's forums.

EAC Chief Executive, John Galvin, said: "We are delighted that this funding has been confirmed and that we will be able to expand FirstStop services over the next two years.

This funding recognises the impact that good quality advice and support can have, both in empowering older people to make important decisions about their lives and in relieving the pressure on other public services.

All FirstStop's services promote positive choice and independence in later life. Providing advice on housing, care, money and rights at an early stage can help to alleviate the need for more intensive interventions through health and social care as people grow older. It also gives individuals time to plan how they will manage in later life."

Around 15,000 people contacted the FirstStop advice line last year, with 115,000 accessing advice via the website and over 1,000 people being helped through local partners. A business plan agreed with DCLG will see continued investment by EAC in local partner organisations, including older people's groups and forums, as well as an expansion of its national telephone advice service and a strengthening of FirstStop's web presence. Customer volumes are expected to double over the two years 2011-12 and 2012-13.

The new funding represents an £840,000 grant from April 1, 2011 and £660,000 for the 2012/13 financial year. The FirstStop service was previously funded by DCLG together with the Big Lottery Fund