Background Information
The charity began life in 1863 as the United Kingdom Beneficent Association, providing financial help to older people in poverty. At that time, it helped those from the 'upper and middle classes' who had fallen on hard times. Amongst the charity’s original founders was Sir William Thomas Charley, who was later a Member of Parliament for Salford in the 1870s.
Until 2005, Independent Age was known as RUKBA, an acronym for the Royal United Kingdom Beneficent Association. It is still registered under this name with the Charity Commission.
During the 1970s, the charity began to offer more befriending services, recognising the 'poverty' of social contact experienced by many older people. Today, Independent Age still provides financial support and befriending, but also provide services to deal with the 'poverty of information' that prevents many older people from claiming all the benefits and services to which they are entitled.
Independent Age's current royal patron is Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy. Independent Age merged with two other older people's charities in 2011, Counsel and Care and the Universal Beneficent Society (UBS).
Read more about this topic: Independent Age
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