A law company is teaming up with a national charity to help put an end to the financial abuse and exploitation of older people.

Burnetts Solicitors LLP is joining forces with Hourglass, a charity dedicated to ending the abuse of older people.

The partnership launch coincides with Hourglass's 2025 Safer Ageing Week, themed 'Take Note', which focuses on highlighting the economic abuse of older people.

In the past year alone, over £23.5 million was stolen or defrauded from older people in the UK, with an average of £87,000 taken per victim.

Shockingly, 61 per cent of these cases involved perpetrators who were family members.

Hourglass's recent research reveals the scale of this crisis across Cumbria, Durham and Tyne and Wear.

In the small number of calls where a monetary value was identified to Hourglass, these older people collectively lost almost £195,000 last year: £15,000 in Cumbria, £100,000 in Durham, and £80,000 in Tyne and Wear.

Burnetts is now a partner of Hourglass’s 'Give an Hour Scheme' and contributes an hour of time each week.

It assists Hourglass in staffing its free to call 24/7 helpline and offers free legal advice, providing a vital lifeline for older people and their families who may be suffering economic abuse.

Penny Wilby, community fundraising manager at Hourglass (Image: Supplied)Johnny Coulthard, inheritance, trusts and will disputes partner at Burnetts, said: "It’s a privilege to work with Hourglass and support its helpline and vital casework.

"The work Hourglass undertakes in raising awareness of this issue and supporting victims of economic abuse is invaluable and I would encourage everyone to look at their website and the services they provide on this very important issue.

"We have significant experience in supporting clients through economic abuse claims and so it’s great to be able to share this knowledge - we are proud to be a partner of the Give an Hour Scheme."

Penny Wilby, community fundraising manager at Hourglass, said: "Hourglass is incredibly grateful to Burnetts Solicitors for their support through the Give an Hour scheme.

"By sharing their time and expertise, they are providing our callers in Cumbria and the North East of England with vital information, helping them make informed decisions in difficult circumstances.

"As the UK’s only charity dedicated to ending the abuse of older people, with the only helpline available 24/7 for those affected, their support makes a real difference.

"We look forward to building on this impactful partnership."

With a rapidly ageing population, the economic abuse of older people is set to worsen.

Hourglass is urging communities and professionals to ‘Take Note’ and join the movement against this deeply personal form of harm.