Older residents benefited from warm clothes, drinks, essentials and treats

A selection of gloves, insulated cups, warm clothes, toiletries and warm drinks — One of the Christmas hampers

Age UK Barnet teamed up with a housing association to distribute hampers to older residents to help make Christmas more comfortable this year.

In the run up to Christmas, Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing (MTVH) distributed winter hampers donated by Age UK Barnet, to residents aged 55 and over at the West Hendon estate.

The hampers, donated by Age UK Barnet, were distributed at the West Hendon Food Bank, run by MTVH, at Barnet Hill Academy on Montagu Road. A total of 30 hampers were distributed by MTVH volunteers and contain winter essential such as hat and gloves, thermal socks and hot drinks thermos and blanket. Tea, coffee, biscuits, and chicken soup were also included along with other essential such as toothbrushes and toothpaste, hand soap and shampoo.

Age UK Barnet is one of the organisations tasked with distributing Barnet Council’s Household Support Fund (HSF). The HSF set up by the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) to support vulnerable households who struggle to pay for essentials such as food and energy during the cost-of-living crisis.

The partnership between MTVH and Age UK Barnet started in July 2023. Impressed by MTVH’s running of the West Hendon Food Bank, Age UK Barnet has since donated £6,000 of HSF funding over two £3,000 payments to the food bank with the money used by MTVH to purchase and distribute 50 fuel and 60 food vouchers for older West Hendon residents. Age UK Barnet have also attended sessions at the food bank, giving one-to-one advice to older residents on a range of issues including benefits and debt.

MTVH is leading the regeneration of the West Hendon estate, alongside Barratt London and Barnet Council. Once complete, the project will have created 2,000 new homes at the estate across a range of tenures alongside new affordable homes for existing residents.

MTVH Chief Executive, Geeta Nanda OBE said: “Our partnership with Age UK Barnet has been led by our Regional Community Co-ordinator for the area, Ada Seijas Fagundez, and has gone from strength to strength over the last six months.

In the midst of the cost-of-living crisis, when an increasing number of older people are struggling to make ends meet, we are providing a vital lifeline to vulnerable older people and demonstrating the power of partnership working across the community.”

Age UK Barnet Chief Executive, Helen Newman said: “’We are delighted to team up with MTVH to make life a bit easier for older people in West Hendon who might be struggling to make ends meet.

Higher energy bills and rising food costs make the colder winter months particularly tough. This is why it’s so great when community groups work together to support people until they get back on their feet.”

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