An Age UK charity is set to close its day club services after losing funding due to the end of a council contract.

Age UK York’s contract with City of York Council will end on 30 September, resulting in the closure of its nine day club groups.

The charity has delivered community services under the contract since 2017.

According to its latest accounts, for the financial year ending 31 March 2023, Age UK York offered its day club services to about 200 people weekly, with further clubs available for people with dementia.

The accounts said the services were particularly popular with people aged over 80, and generated an income of £78,119 for the charity.

Sara Storey, director of adult social care at City of York Council, thanked Age UK York for working with the council ahead of its change in provision.

“Together, we’re committed to supporting activities that meet older residents’ needs – including continued social contact,” Storey said.

“Research shows that about half the residents attending these day clubs have, or are awaiting, dementia diagnoses, which is why we and NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board  are continuing to fund Age UK York’s dementia clubs and other provision.

“Affected residents can be supported to transfer to these and other activities offered by the community and voluntary sector.

“For other day club users, staff at Age UK York and the council are helping them choose alternatives from activities run locally and advertised at Live Well York.”

The charity’s day clubs will run until the end of the council contract in September. City of York Council said the “difficult decision” to end the provision was relayed to the charity earlier this year.

“Encouraging social contact and combatting isolation are important priorities for the council so, besides the continued funding for the dementia day clubs, we’re working with Age UK York to provide advice and support services for older residents, a shopping service and a befriending service,” Storey said.

“This difficult decision was made early this year when we asked Age UK York to begin signposting day club users to other suitable activities local to them.”

Storey said the council is reviewing its overall budget alongside existing community contracts that it funds to identify “priority areas” for funding going forward in line with residents’ needs.

She said: “Our budgets are under ongoing and increasing pressures with government funding not keeping pace with the demands we face.”

Age UK York has been contacted for comment.