FirstStop Partners

The FirstStop Advice service was launched in August 2008 by its founder partners Counsel and Care, EAC, Help the Aged and NHFA, with the support of seed funding provided by the Big Lottery Fund.

Subsequently it has evolved, first through the merger of Help the Aged and Age Concern into Age UK, and subsequently thanks to Government (CLG) funding, into a growing network of local and national partner organisations, led by EAC and working together to deliver good quality information and advice to older people and their families.

As at June 2010 our partners in delivering the FirstStop Advice service nationally and locally include:

			Age Concern Kingston: "Our area's leading third sector provider of services for older people."
			Age Concern Oxfordshire: "We believe growing older should be a time of happiness and fulfilment and are passionately devoted to making that a reality for everyone growing older in Oxfordshire."
			Care and Repair England: A charity set up in 1986 to improve the housing and living conditions of older people and disabled people.
			Care and Repair Leeds: "Promoting independent living for older people, disabled adults and children, and people on low incomes."
			Counsel and Care for the Elderly: A national charity which gives advice and information to older people, their relatives and carers on community care, care homes and housing with care.
			East Sussex County Council: Our partner in delivering FirstStop Advice in East Sussex, along with Eastbourne and Hastings Borough Councils and Lewes, Rother and Wealden District Councils.
			Newham Home Improvement Agency: Encouraging the development of housing options services in 6 London Boroughs and promoting close working with FirstStop Advice."
			Nottinghamshire County Council: "Contributing to expanding local, face-to-face housing options advice services in Nottinghamshire."
			Quality of Life Partnership (Newcastle): The Elders Council is a vital part of The Quality of Life Partnership, a body that brings together older people in Newcastle with the people who make decisions that affect their lives.
			Sefton Pensioners Advocacy Centre: Set up in 1995 by a group of local people who felt that older people needed help in getting their views heard.
			Somerset West Care & Repair: "Our job is to help you to make your home safe, comfortable and easier to live in."
			Warwickshire County Council: Our partner in delivering FirstStop Advice Warwickshire, along with North Warwickshire, Nuneaton & Bedworth, Rugby, Stratford and Warwick Councils.
			Worcestershire County Council: Working alongside Worcestershire Home Improvement Agency and FirstStop Advice to expand local housing options services to older people."