Funding linked to new homes will help reinstate vital music sessions for older people
MUSIC-LED sessions for older people in South Queensferry are set to return after a charitable donation from a major housing developer.
A £2,500 contribution from Cala Homes (East) was given to Manor Estates Housing Association (MEHA) and its community fund following the final handover of 25 social rent properties at the Queensferry Heights housing development.
The full amount has been awarded to Queensferry Churches Care in the Community (QCCC) to restart popular music sessions that had been scaled back due to financial pressures.
Derek Lawson, Strategic Land Director at Cala Homes (East), said: “We are pleased to see this community benefit donation support such a worthwhile, local cause.
“At Cala, we are committed not only to delivering high-quality homes, but also to making a positive contribution to the communities in which we build.
“It is particularly rewarding to know this donation will help QCCC continue its valuable work supporting older people and reducing social isolation.”
QCCC supports around 400 older people each year across South Queensferry and surrounding communities, helping to reduce isolation and improve wellbeing through a range of services and activities.
The organisation had been forced to scale back some of its music-based sessions due to financial pressures, despite their proven benefits for emotional wellbeing, memory stimulation and social connection.
Claire Ironside, CEO of Manor Estates Housing Association, said: “We know just how beneficial these sessions are, particularly for older people. To be able to help bring them back through this funding is incredibly rewarding and shows the value of partnership working in action.”
The latest handover between Cala and Manor Estates brings Cala’s total delivery to 44 affordable homes across the development, forming part of a wider commitment tied to the site and local community.
The homes include a mix of houses and flats designed to meet a range of housing needs, helping to address ongoing demand for high-quality affordable housing in the area.
Claire added: “It has been hugely reassuring working with Cala throughout this development. The quality has been consistent from start to finish, and the finished homes are ones we are genuinely proud to offer to tenants.”
Over 20 million workers are set to get more from every pound they save towards retirement thanks to the passing into law of historic pensions legislation yesterday, Wednesday 29 April 2026
Pension Schemes Bill to receive Royal Assent, delivering major reform to the UK’s £2 trillion worth of pensions.
New rules aim to benefit 22 million people as they drive down costs and boost returns on retirement savings.
Act paves the way for the upcoming Pensions Commission to ensure savers can look forward to a comfortable retirement.
Over 20 million workers are set to get more from every pound they save towards retirement thanks to the passing into law of historic pensions legislation yesterday, Wednesday 29 April 2026.
The Pension Schemes Act will bring about major reform to the UK pensions system, benefitting an average worker to the tune of up to £29,000 by the time they retire.
The Act will require pension schemes to prove they are delivering value for money, enable the automatic consolidation of small pension pots, and create larger, better-performing funds.
Many people build up several small pension pots as they move between jobs, making it difficult to keep track of their retirement savings. The new law will enable these pots to be brought together automatically, giving savers a clearer picture of their pension.
The new Act also introduces a Value for Money framework, protecting savers from being stuck in underperforming schemes. In future, pension schemes managers and trustees will need to offer clear default options for turning savings into retirement income, with the aim of giving people who choose this, a sustainable income in their retirement.
Minister for Pensions Torsten Bell said: “Today is a landmark moment for the 22 million workers building up a pension pot across the UK.
“For too long, our pensions system has been fragmented and rarely ensures that people’s savings are working hard enough to support them in retirement.
“The Pensions Schemes Act will change that by creating schemes that drive down costs, deliver higher returns, and give savers the security they deserve.”
The Act aims to transform the pensions landscape, ensuring every pound saved delivers stronger returns while driving investment in the economy. Key measures include:
Enabling small pension pots to be automatically consolidated.
The VFM framework will standardise how value is assessed, leading to transparency and comparability. This, in turn, will drive competition and a long-term focus on value across the DC pensions sector.
Creating multi-employer defined contribution “megafunds” of at least £25 billion, which will drive down costs and enable investment in a wider range of assets, including in UK businesses and infrastructure.
Consolidating Local Government Pension Scheme assets into pools managed by FCA-regulated managers, supporting long-term investment in local infrastructure, housing and clean energy across the country.
Providing Defined Benefit schemes with greater flexibility to release surplus funds, unlocking collectively around £160 billion to support employers and deliver for scheme members.
Together the measures will benefit working people on an average salary who save into a pensions pot over their career by up to £29,000 by the time they retire.
The Act paves the way for the upcoming Pensions Commission which is examining how we ensure tomorrow’s pensioners are on track for a comfortable retirement and will make recommendations for change – potentially benefiting millions of people across the UK.
129 campaigners, led by the national charity Independent Age, have sent letters to the leaders of the six political parties expected to gain seats in May’s Holyrood election, calling on them to take action to tackle pensioner poverty.
160,000 (or one in six) older people across Scotland live in poverty. In the letter, campaigners call on politicians to make five pledges to address this growing issue, including creating a pensioner poverty strategy, appointing an Older People’s Commissioner and reducing energy bills.
Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age, said: “Campaigners across Scotland are clear: we need action on pensioner poverty. The numbers of older people in financial hardship are far too high, with one in six now affected.
“These are older people who can’t afford their rent, skip meals, heat only one room in the winter and cannot afford to meet up with a friend for a cup of tea.
“Poverty in later life is not inevitable, nor should it be. We’ve seen that financial hardship can be reduced by political action. Those standing for election in May can make later life more secure and dignified for everyone by committing to the actions our campaigners are calling for.
“In a compassionate and caring society, we should look out for each other and together end the injustice of pensioner poverty.”
The letters, each addressed to the party leaders of the six biggest political parties in Scotland, will reach their recipients this week. The letters outline what campaigners want to see from whoever leads the next Scottish Government to bring down pensioner poverty. The charity released the publication ‘Security not struggle: a manifesto to reduce pensioner poverty’which sets out five key pledges.
This includes an action-focused, target driven pensioner poverty strategy and a warm homes programme for older people on a low income to reduce energy bills. Additionally, it calls on the Scottish Government to both improve access to and increase funding for Discretionary Housing Payments to support the rent shortfall faced by many older renters on a low income.
Independent Age also believes that the social security system can be improved. It wants a review of Pension Age Disability Payment by April 2027, with a specific focus on introducing a mobility component. The organisation also wants to see a commitment to delivering a Minimum Income Guarantee.
Finally, the charity is calling for the creation of an Older People’s Commissioner, who would both listen to, and be a voice for people in later life, and raise awareness of financial entitlements that older people are not receiving such as Pension Credit.
THE LETTER READS:
Dear Party Leader,
We believe in a Scotland where older people can live with security, not struggle. Where the systems we build together provide a foundation of dignity and a life free from poverty.
Today, 160,000 older people in Scotland are living in poverty - more than at any point in nearly twenty years – with half in severe poverty. This is not inevitable. It is the result of systems that are not delivering for older people on low incomes: gaps in social security, unaffordable rents, and homes that cannot be kept warm.
Tackling pensioner poverty is possible through policy choices. And action by political parties in the next Scottish Parliament can progress solutions.
We are writing ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election as campaigners supporting Independent Age, the national charity for older people on a low income. We ask every party to commit to the five demands in its manifesto, Security Not Struggle: A Manifesto to Reduce Pensioner Poverty.
1. Implement a national Pensioner Poverty Strategy
Scotland has the opportunity to be the first nation in the UK to put in place a cross-cutting strategy harnessing devolved powers to reduce pensioner poverty. The changes needed to turn the tide on rising pensioner poverty include social security, housing, food and energy – it’s time for a strategic plan to reduce pensioner poverty over the next Parliament.
2. Appoint a Commissioner for Older People
More than half of older people feel unrepresented by their MSPs and nearly two thirds feel unrepresented by the Scottish Government. An independent Commissioner, established in law, would ensure older people’s rights and issues are amplified, heard by decision makers and support future policy development to meet the needs of our ageing population.
3. Deliver a decent and dignified social security system
Social security should be the foundation of security in later life – but too often people fall through the gaps in the system. In Scotland, we can better support older people on low incomes if we act to introduce a mobility component to Pension Age Disability Payment, a Special Recognition Payment for older carers, and commit to a Minimum Income Guarantee: a floor below which no one falls.
4. Reduce energy bills
Older people are most impacted by fuel poverty; around a third of older households are in fuel poverty and half of older people live in homes with poor energy efficiency. This is a structural issue – built into Scotland’s ageing housing stock. A targeted warm homes programme for older people on low incomes, backed by properly funded energy efficiency schemes, is essential to reduce fuel poverty and help meet Scotland’s own legal targets.
5. Guarantee the right to a secure and affordable home
A home is the foundation of a dignified life. Yet renters, who make up just one in five pensioners, account for nearly half of all older people in poverty, and more than 25,000 are on a waiting list for social housing. It’s time to increase Discretionary Housing Payments, build the homes older people need, and enshrine the right to housing in Scots law.
People of all ages in Scotland support our calls for change: 9 in 10 recognise poverty is a growing problem for older people, and an overwhelming majority want more action from political parties.
We ask each of you to commit to taking action on pensioner poverty and to support the five asks in Security Not Struggle. We believe this is the right thing to do. Older people across Scotland are counting on you.
Campaigners have called for a Minimum Income Guarantee and an immediate increase in the Scottish Child Payment that will lift thousands out of poverty.
He said: “Poverty is a profound injustice that robs people of what they need to build a decent life for themselves and a better future for our country. These figures show that MSPs in the next Scottish Parliament need to invest much more in the social foundation we all rely on.
“Because of changes in the way the figures have been worked out, we have to be cautious about the comparisons we make. But they show some welcome progress over the last few years, with the overall number of people in poverty falling by about 130,000 since 2021/22, and the number of children in poverty from 540,000 to 420,000.
“But we have serious concerns that those numbers could increase again, as people face yet another energy crisis and the prospect of rocketing living costs across the board.
“The figures show that there are 630,000 people in severe poverty – with children making up 150,000 of them. It is simply wrong that so many of our fellow citizens find themselves pushed so close to deprivation.”
The Poverty Alliance repeated its calls to boost the Scottish Child Payment to £55 a week.
Peter Kelly said: “Our new MSPs will have a legal responsibility to make sure that fewer than 10% of Scotland’s children are in poverty by 2030/31. Today’s figures show that 21% of our children are living with that daily injustice.
“We simply cannot allow this to continue. The Scottish Government can help by strengthening the support we give to households with children, and the UK Government can help by scrapping the unjust benefit cap.
“And over the course of the next Parliament, we will continue to build public support for real Living Wages and a Minimum Income Guarantee that will make sure everyone has what they need to use their talents for the benefit of themselves, their households, and all of us.”
Responding to today’s statistics on household incomes and poverty which show one in five children in Scotland are trapped in poverty, Chief Executive of Children First, Mary Glasgow said: “A small drop in child poverty does not change the urgent need for action to tackle Scotland’s childhood emergency and meet Scotland’s 2030 child poverty target.
“It is not acceptable that one in five children in Scotland are living in poverty. It has a devastating impact on children’s mental health, wellbeing, education and prospects that can last into adulthood. Reducing child poverty is an investment in Scotland’s future, improving public health, strengthening communities and reducing public costs in the long term.
“In the run up to the election, every political party must prioritise policies that support families, strengthen incomes and uphold Scotland’s commitment to eradicating child poverty.”
Commenting on today’s latest official poverty statistics, Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age said: “Today’s statistics show there are still too many pensioners living in poverty in Scotland.
“As the national charity supporting older people on low incomes, we know that older people are skipping meals, washing in cold water and not turning the heating on. This is wrong and a social injustice.
“As the Holyrood elections approach, all political parties must prioritise action to reduce pensioner poverty. This should start with a national strategy, a plan setting out the key actions to reduce poverty in older age and act as a map for how we will get there.
“They must also pledge to improve the social security support for older people on low incomes, and commit to supporting older people improve the energy efficiency of homes.
“We also urge the UK Government to introduce a social tariff for energy across the whole of the UK to reduce the cost of heating for older people on low incomes. The UK Government must also improve the take-up and adequacy of the payments they administer to older people.
“The levels of poverty in later life are too high in Scotland, and with around 1.7 million older people now in poverty across the UK, today’s figures must be a call to action.”
TRUSSELL commented: “It’s encouraging that child poverty is falling in Scotland. It shows the power of investing in social security.
“But it’s not acceptable that 1 in 5 children are locked in poverty. All parties must commit to decisive action to ensure every child has a decent start in life.”
Cara Hilton, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Trussell, said: “Today, the Family Resources Survey has revealed a heartbreaking injustice; persistently high numbers of people across Scotland are trapped in the grip of severe hardship.
“While the latest figures indicate that some people are getting back on their feet, the numbers of people facing hunger in our communities are still too high. As we find ourselves yet again facing uncertain times, we know that progress can be too easily undone. People just surviving could once again be pushed over the edge if the price of food and bills increases.
“Food banks in our community provided more than 220,000 food parcels in Scotland in 2025 – that’s 64% more than in 2015. These new figures from the government confirm that 500,000 people are facing hunger across Scotland. This isn’t right.
“With the Holyrood election just six weeks away, Trussell is calling on all political parties to commit to building a Scotland where everyone can afford the essentials and where every child has a decent start in life.
“This should include immediate investment to increase the Scottish Child Payment to £40 a week, increasing to £55 by the end of the next Holyrood session. We need the Scottish government to build firmer foundations for people on the lowest incomes so all of us have the support we need to thrive.”
Latest poverty statistics published
Two poverty statistics publications were released by the Scottish Government yesterday. Poverty and income inequality in Scotland 2022-25 covers the period up to March 2025, presenting poverty rates for children, working-age adults and pensioners.
Methodological changes have been applied to the statistics in this report as the Department for Work and Pensions have linked the source data from the Family Resources Survey to administrative records on social security benefits.
As a result, there have been revisions to previously published poverty rates back to 2021/22, and further revisions are planned as part of on-going development work. Users should therefore note that caution is needed when interpreting the statistics to assess trends over time.
The most recent three-year averages for 2022-25 show that:
Around 17 per cent of Scotland’s population (940,000 people) were living in relative poverty after housing costs. This was 15 per cent (840,000 people) before housing costs. Poverty rates for Scotland’s population have been broadly stable for around a decade.
Children are more likely to be in relative poverty: 21 per cent of children are in relative poverty after housing costs, compared to 13 per cent of pensioners and 18 per cent of working-age adults. Children in relative poverty are more likely to be in a working household; 75% of children in relative poverty have at least one person working in the household while 25% have no-one in household working.
The median household income before housing costs was £707 per week and after housing costs was £636. Prior to 2021/22, median incomes had increased slowly but steadily since the recession in 2008/09.
Persistent Poverty in Scotland 2010-24 presents statistics on people who live in relative poverty for at least three out of the last four years. The latest figures show that around one in ten people in Scotland (11 per cent) were in persistent poverty, after housing costs, between 2020 and 2024. Persistent poverty rates were highest for children (17 per cent), and lower for working-age adults (10 per cent) and pensioners (9 per cent).
Persistent poverty is an important measure because the longer someone is in poverty, the more it impacts on their health, well-being, and overall life chances. These impacts can affect an individual throughout their lifetime.
Further information on the two publications is set out below:
This Poverty and Income Inequality in Scotland publication contains statistics on poverty, child poverty, poverty risks for various equality characteristics, household income and income inequality for Scotland. This report also includes statistics on household food security. The data comes from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Family Resources Survey (FRS), Households Below Average Income dataset. Comparable UK income and poverty figures are published on the same day by DWP.
Statistics from this report have been revised, back to 2021/22, due to a methodology change. The FRS is now linked to administrative data, which means the majority of FRS responses for benefit income and tax credits have been replaced with data from DWP’s administrative sources. Further years of linked estimates back to survey year 2018/19 will be published in summer 2026 in a follow up release. The absolute poverty measure has also been amended as a result of the data linkage; full details can be found in the report.
This publication has been designated as official statistics in development in line with the other devolved administrations in order to acknowledge the changes to the methodology and that there will be a period of flux as further methodological changes are implemented. Future changes are announced by DWP in their release strategy, which is updated periodically as plans develop. A statistical blog has been published on the Scottish Government website to inform users of developments.
Figures are presented in the main report are three-year averages of each estimate. Three-year estimates are better to identify trends over time. The four child poverty measures in the Child Poverty (Scotland) Act are based on single-year figures. These statistics are available in the reference tables and in the child poverty summary.The single-year estimates exhibit more year-on-year fluctuation compared to the three-year averages and should be interpreted with caution.
This Persistent Poverty in Scotland publication presents estimates of the proportion of people in Scotland who live in persistent poverty. The data comes from the Understanding Society Survey, and the latest statistics cover the period from 2020 to 2024. Statistics from this report are badged as official statistics.
Poverty statistics are used by the Scottish Government and other organisations to monitor progress in tackling poverty and child poverty, and to analyse what drives poverty and what works for tackling poverty and income inequality.
Relative poverty: A person is in relative poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the current UK median. Relative poverty statistics fall if income growth at the lower end of the income distribution is greater than overall income growth.
Absolute poverty: A person is in absolute poverty if their current household income is less than 60% of the UK median in a given reference year, adjusted for inflation. Absolute poverty statistics fall if low income households are seeing their incomes rise faster than inflation. Due to the structural break introduced by the data linkage the reference year for absolute poverty has been moved from 2010/11 to 2024/25.
Combined low income and material deprivation identifies the proportion of children in households with incomes below 70% of the median UK income and going without certain basic essential goods and services.
Persistent poverty identifies the number of people in relative poverty for three or more out of four years. People who live in poverty for several years may be affected by it throughout their lifetime.
The poverty publications present poverty figures before and after housing costs. Before-housing-costs figures are a basic measure of household income from earnings and benefits. After-housing-costs figures subtract spending on rents, mortgage interest payments and other unavoidable housing costs from this basic income. In Scotland, poverty statistics focus mainly on poverty after housing costs.
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Hourglass has welcomed a new inspection by His Majesty’s Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate (HMCPSI), which finds that older victims of crime generally receive a good service from prosecutors, but warns that court delays and an overly complex policy framework risk leaving older people waiting too long for justice.
The inspection, published today, examined 168 cases and assessed how the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) supports older victims throughout the prosecution process. Inspectors found that prosecutors often identify vulnerability well in practice and make appropriate use of special measures to support older victims to give their best evidence.
Hourglass worked closely with HMCPSI throughout the inspection, providing written evidence, sharing frontline insight from its work supporting older victim-survivors, and contributing to the development of the inspection framework.
The charity welcomed the inspectorate’s commitment to centring victim experience and engaging meaningfully with specialist third sector organisations.
The report highlights serious concerns about delays in the court system, noting the disproportionate impact these have on older victims, whose health and circumstances may deteriorate while cases are repeatedly adjourned.
Inspectors also found that the current approach to identifying and monitoring crimes against older people is overly complex and prone to error, with around a third of cases incorrectly flagged.
Significantly, the inspection reflects a number of issues consistently raised by Hourglass, including the need to lower the age threshold used to identify older victims, move away from a quasi-hate-crime model, and improve the quality and transparency of data.
HMCPSI recommends that the CPS simplify its approach by recognising all victims aged 60 and over, focusing on vulnerability rather than rigid definitions, and strengthening monitoring.
Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO and Head of Policy at Hourglass, said: “We are grateful to HMCPSI for engaging closely with Hourglass throughout this inspection and for taking older victims’ lived experiences seriously.
“The report rightly recognises the commitment of prosecutors, while also being clear that the current framework is too complex and is producing inconsistent outcomes.
“We are particularly pleased to see our recommendations reflected in the inspectorate’s findings, including lowering the age threshold to 60 and simplifying the approach so that all older victims are consistently recognised and supported.
“We urge the CPS to adopt the recommendations in full and look forward to continuing to work constructively with them to support implementation.”
Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity dedicated to ending the abuse and neglect of older people, has long called for greater consistency in how older victims are identified, better data to understand the scale and nature of abuse, and a justice system that responds with urgency to the realities of ageing and vulnerability.
The report makes three recommendations for the CPS to implement by September 2026:
simplifying the definition of crimes against older people to include all victims aged 60 and over
removing the requirement to treat these cases as ‘quasi-hate crimes’ and focusing instead on individual vulnerability
strengthening monitoring and data quality to ensure older victims are properly recognised.
Hourglass said the inspection provides a strong foundation for reform and an important opportunity to strengthen confidence among older victim-survivors that they will be seen, supported, and treated with urgency by the justice system.
Baroness Hughes of Stretford, England Patron for Hourglass, said: “Older victims of crime face particular barriers in being heard and supported, especially when cases are delayed or systems are overly complex.
“I welcome moves to create a clearer, more consistent approach that focuses on vulnerability and ensures older people are not overlooked. This is an important moment to strengthen confidence in the justice system for older victims.”
The Scottish Household Survey (SHS) is an annual survey of over 10,000 households. It covers a range of different topics including your home, your neighbourhood and your views on local public services.
The Scottish Government, local councils and various charities use the results to improve the lives of people in your area and across Scotland. The survey has been running since 1999 and is independent of all political parties.
The latest survey was published yesterday.
Commenting on statistics released today in the Scottish Household Survey Debbie Horne, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Independent Age said:“Older people now make up 13% of all private renters across Scotland.
“Privately renting in later life can be difficult, especially when living on a low, fixed income. Almost one in three (32%) older private renters live in poverty. With a growing proportion of the private rented sector made up of older people, it’s vital the Scottish government ensures renters of all ages, including those who are older, can live securely.
“With the Holyrood election fast approaching, we’re calling on all parties standing for election to commit to policies to support older renters in their manifesto. Over 25,000 pensioners are on the waiting list for a social home in Scotland, with almost three quarters (74%) waiting over a year.
“The next Government must build more affordable social housing. They must also improve access to, and increase funding for, Discretionary Housing Payments. These can help make up the shortfall between Housing Benefit and rental costs.
“They are vital to avoid older people making dangerous cutbacks on essentials like food and heating to be able to afford their rent, but most older people who could potentially access them are unaware they exist.”
Barchester Healthcare care home Strachan House located in Blackhall has added to their services with a new high-tech touch pad at the home (writes Strachan House Care Home’s JANE LONGSTAFF).
A care home which provides expert care to residents with mobility restrictions as well as those living with dementia, the sensory trolley has allowed residents of all capacities and mobilities to enjoy different, sensory experiences without even leaving their rooms.
The specially-adapted, fully-accessible display features immersive technology, which enables users to move shapes, colours and objects through gesture and movement. The touch pad has a number of features designed to help those suffering with with dementia to relax; the cart also helps de-escalate stressful and upsetting situations experienced by those suffering with different forms of the disease.
The unit is designed with a number of key features that include: a 4K screen which allows residents to take immersive voyages anywhere in the world, a variety of dementia-friendly apps which allow multi-sensory experiences, a virtual piano, a 3D chess set and other virtual games, large piece jigsaws and other activities for residents with mobility restrictions.
The 65” screen allows residents with visual difficulties to participate in activities they would otherwise be unable to see.
Hourglass, the only UK-wide charity focused on ending the abuse of older people, says the Government’s newly published Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy is a long-awaited step forward – but warns it does not yet set out how abuse in later life will be recognised and tackled in practice.
The Strategy sets an ambition to halve VAWG over the next decade and focuses strongly on preventing abuse early, improving education and stopping perpetrators. Hourglass welcomes that direction – but says the delivery story is still largely written around younger victims, meaning older victim-survivors risk being left behind.
Richard Robinson, CEO of Hourglass, said: “We welcome the fact the Government has set out a ten-year strategy and a clear ambition to reduce violence and abuse.
“But if the goal is to halve VAWG, it cannot ignore the fastest-growing part of our population – older people – and the very different ways abuse shows up in later life.”
What Hourglass welcomes
A clear national ambition and a cross-government approach.
A strong focus on prevention and early intervention, including tackling harmful attitudes.
Recognition that everyone in society has a role, including adults and “older generations”.
Hourglass is named in the Strategy’s support list and a case study is published in supporting documentation – an important acknowledgement that older people need specialist help too.
Hourglass is concerned that the Strategy:
Barely mentions older victim-survivors, despite the UK’s ageing population and rising need.
Does not clearly explain how abuse in later life fits within VAWG delivery – including the role of health, social care and adult safeguarding, which are often the first (and sometimes only) services older people come into contact with.
Risks missing people already living with harm now, because prevention activity is largely centred on children and young people.
Hourglass explains that this is important as abuse in later life can include domestic abuse, coercive control, sexual abuse and economic abuse – often made worse by disability, dementia, dependency, isolation and barriers to disclosure.
Older victim-survivors may not describe themselves as victims at all, and they may be less able to leave safely without the right support in place.
Hourglass’s own service data shows the scale and the difference:
Since 2020, Hourglass has supported more than 32,000 older victim-survivors.
Demand for the 24/7 helpline has more than doubled over the same period.
44% of alleged perpetrators recorded by Hourglass are adult children – a pattern that does not fit the public stereotype of abuse. (All figures are drawn from Hourglass service data.)
Hourglass joins many in the VAWG sector in calling for stronger delivery and sustainable investment. Refuge and Women’s Aid have already warned that the Strategy does not go far enough and that funding for specialist services remains inadequate, with Women’s Aid calling for ring-fenced investment, including for “by and for” services supporting black and minoritised women and for child victims.
The Children’s Commissioner welcomed positive steps for children, including the development of “Child Houses” – underlining the need for age-specific approaches at every life stage.
Hourglass is calling on Government to strengthen delivery by:
Naming abuse in later life clearly within the VAWG framework and delivery plans.
Making older victim-survivors visible in policy, data and accountability measures.
Embedding age-competent, trauma-informed training across health, social care, policing and courts.
Investing in specialist support and pathways that work for older people, including those with care and support needs.
Ensuring long term funding pathways that sustain and invest in specialist services like Hourglass. A current six month funding proposal for 2026/27 puts jobs at risk.
Veronica Gray, Deputy CEO and Policy Director of Hourglass, added: “A strategy that doesn’t work for people in later life isn’t a strategy that works for everyone.
“We stand ready to work with Government on practical changes – so older victim-survivors are seen, believed, and supported.”
From everyone at LifeCare Edinburgh, thank you to all who donated, attended an event, volunteered, visited our café or liked or shared our social posts this year – we couldn’t have delivered our vital support for over 1,000 local older people and their unpaid carers without you.
On behalf of us all, have a lovely Christmas and we can’t wait to welcome you again in 2026!
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