Why we’re walking alongside our clients: Every Step Matters

Too often, we see people get so close to moving forward, only to be stopped by a cost they simply can’t afford.

It might be someone who has finally secured a home after months of uncertainty, but their furniture is sitting in a storage unit because they can’t afford the removalist fees or ongoing storage costs. It might be the gap payment for a specialist appointment that will provide the evidence needed to access further support. Sometimes it’s the cost of obtaining a birth certificate so they can apply for social housing or government assistance.

Other times, the challenges are even more basic. We meet older people with empty pantries, people going without heating in winter or cooling in summer, and people making impossible choices between paying a bill, buying medication, or putting food on the table.

These are often relatively small amounts of money, but they can create enormous barriers. They can keep people stuck when they’re ready to take the next step.

That’s why flexible funding is so important.

Being able to provide timely financial assistance helps remove some of these obstacles and relieves the immediate pressure people are experiencing. It allows them to focus on what really matters: improving their wellbeing, remaining independent, staying connected to their community, and continuing to age safely in place with the support of services around them.

On 8 November, the Age Matters team will be walking 25 kilometres as part of our Every Step Matters fundraising campaign. We’re challenging ourselves because we see firsthand the difference that practical support can make in someone’s life.

Because sometimes the smallest step forward can change everything. And every step really does matter.