A charity has decided to merge with another to ensure it can still run its vital services for elderly people in the future.

Age UK Faversham and Sittingbourne will now be taken over by Age UK Medway.

The board of trustees took the decision to merge with the nearby branch following the news their chief executive Clare Burgess was leaving and understanding that Kent County Council (KCC) is unlikely to give any future funding.

In a statement, they said: “We are very sad to lose Clare’s skills and expertise from the charity and we wish her every success in her new chapter.

“Clare successfully led the charity through the Covid pandemic, indeed joining right at the start of lockdown one.

“She was instrumental in redesigning services to enable the charity team to support our community through the worst of the pandemic and through her leadership the team were kept safe and not one case of Covid was identified during the successive lockdowns.

“More recently, Age UK Faversham and Sittingbourne had their grant funding of £350,000 withdrawn from KCC, but thankfully with Clare’s income generating experience and partnership skills the charity has managed to work with a number of funders and partners to successfully plug some of this gap.

“Clare’s resignation from the charity has given the Board of Trustees of Age UK Faversham and Sittingbourne some time to reflect on the best way forward for the charity, our team, and our beneficiaries.

“The current climate is not a positive one, our local authority is unlikely to be in a position to give any future funding and charities all over the country are shutting their doors.

“Working in collaboration, partnerships, and creating income generation are the ways that charities will survive the next few years and many funders wish to ensure their funding is given to charities who are sustainable and less fragmented.

“To this end the Board of Trustees have unanimously agreed to merge Age UK Faversham and Sittingbourne with Age UK Medway.

“This decision, we feel, is a hugely positive step and will give further sustainability to ensure the longevity of the charity’s ability to continue to support our beneficiaries and reduce the postcode lottery of services in the areas of Medway, Sittingbourne, Faversham and surrounding areas.”

Age UK Medway has already expanded their reach to North West Kent by taking on services previously provided by local charity Age UK North West Kent and in developing The Clarendon Royal Community, in the former Clarendon Royal Hotel, Gravesend.

Chief executive John Norley said: “The approach from Clare and her chair in March was a surprise, and losing a forward-thinker like Clare from the network of Age UK Charities will be a blow, but the Sittingbourne and Faversham Board’s decision is a sensible, and timely one.

“I have long held the view that rationalisation of our network towards regional hubs is a more efficient use of the charities hard earned funds and can lead to tremendous efficiencies which release more money and time to dedicate to the development of improved services for older people.

“Age UK Medway has a track record of sustainability through rationalised back of house operations, and merging with Sittingbourne and Faversham, hot on the heels of our recent transfer of the North West Kent services will provide a fantastic opportunity to reach a wider audience of older people in a consistent manner.”

The organisation will be rolling out our range of services from Dartford to Faversham.

Clare Burgess will be leaving the organisation in July with the merger due to be completed in August.