A HAMMERSMITH project to help older Londoners gain the IT skills and confidence to combat age discrimination in the workplace is to close.
The ‘Third Age Foundation’, which has helped more than 6,000 people during its 20-year history, has decided to close its doors in the face uncertainties over future funding.
London’s Green MEP Jean Lambert joined Hammersmith and Fulham Mayor Councillor Frances Stainton at an award ceremony for the last batch of successful students.
Speaking after the event, Ms Lambert said: “It’s such a shame to see such a valuable organisation close its doors for the last time.
“Third Age has played a vital role in helping vulnerable and unemployed older Londoners back into the workplace – and I hope that other organisations will carry on this work in the future, and that Third Age’s financial backers, including the European Social Fund and London Councils will continue to support their work.
“As more and more councils cut their small grants programmes in the face of Government cuts to local authority budgets it is becoming harder and harder for small, community-based NGOs to secure the funding they need – and as a society we will need to take a long, hard look at the way this sort of group is funded in future.”