Grass cuts add to another big year for Wetherby charity - but funding challenges remain

Rising demand for an older people’s grass cutting scheme has contributed to another huge year for a leading Wetherby charity- but future funding challenges remain.

In 2025, there were more than 17,500 interactions with Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) - which delivers range of services that help people stay connected, active and independent.

The number of grass cuts and winter maintenance visits WiSE provides shot up from 500 to 600 last year, but BBC Children In Need (CIN) funding for the scheme ends in March.

Other stand out successes for the charity included the WiSE Owl Cafe, which reached a record-breaking 11,000 attendances - an increase of 1,200 on the previous year. In June, the café also launched a popular men’s breakfast club every Friday at Boston Spa Village Hall, creating a new social space for older men.

Memory Café – which supports those living with dementia and their carers - saw 820 attendances, up 170 on the year before, and WiSE introduced a new quarterly Forget Me Not Café to give carers a few hours of respite.

Activities overall rose by 50 to hit 2,300 attendances while special events - including 460 attendances on trips to Beamish, Blackpool, a York River cruise, Wetherby Racecourse, Christmas bingo and parties.

Welcome Café, the charity’s “pay as you feel” warm spaces café, supported 1,300 attendances and WiSE’s transport services delivered 430 journeys.

The Send a Smile scheme sent handmade post to 158 isolated older people, while Information & Advice services totalled 520 people.

The charity continues to be powered by volunteers. In 2025, 120 volunteers gave a combined 6,850 hours of their time - up 150 hours on last year - helping WiSE deliver vital services across the community.

Mark Dobson, Chief Operating Officer at WiSE, said: “2025 has been another busy and impactful year for WiSE, with hundreds of older people relying on our services to stay connected, supported and independent. We are particularly proud of the growth of WiSE Owl Café and the launch of our men’s breakfast club, which has quickly become a valued space for friendship and conversation.

“However, we are facing real challenges. Reduced funding in some areas and the end of key grants, such as support for our grass cutting and winter maintenance service, mean we must work harder than ever to sustain what we offer. Demand for our services remains high, and we are committed to doing everything we can to continue supporting older people in our community - but we cannot do it alone.”

Wetherby in Support of the Elderly (WiSE) is a registered charity organisation part funded by Leeds City Council (LCC).  Its aim is to improve quality of life for the over 60s by providing community based activities, information, help and support.

For more information, to donate or volunteer, visit www.w-ise.org.uk