NEWS RELEASE

Project to help older people befriend expands to tackle health issues

A service which aims to combat loneliness and improve physical and emotional health and well-being among older people has launched in Neath Port Talbot.

'Promoting Independence through Neighbourliness' is the newest service to be launched by local charity Age Concern Neath Port Talbot, and will assist people over the age of 65 in the area to increase their opportunities for social engagement while also providing access to exercise and healthy living workshops and classes.

The project will run for three years during which time it aims to assist 600 people in Neath Port Talbot to improve their physical and emotional well-being and increase social inclusion opportunities.

The new service follows on from the resounding success of the first phase of the project, where the charity helped 475 local older people to meet new friends and to get out and about.

The new project will build on the charity's expertise and will include a new structured programme of exercise and nutrition based classes - all of which will focus on creating strong friendship groups among people who would otherwise be isolated in Neath Port Talbot.

The service which has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund's (BIG) AdvantAge Programme and has received backing from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU), will focus on reaching the most vulnerable and isolated people in the area, including older men and people from BME communities.

Some of the classes and workshops that will take place as part of the Neighbourliness project are; walking groups, chair based exercise classes, free swimming, healthy eating lunch clubs and healthy living workshops.

Speaking of the new service, Dean Richards 'Promoting Independence through Neighbourliness' Project Manager at Age Concern Neath Port Talbot said: "We are very proud of what the first phase of the project has achieved and as a result we have concentrated on extensively developing the project so service users can now also benefit from the addition of health promotion activities.

"Neath Port Talbot has one of the highest populations of older people in Wales and we are confident that this project will enable people who are among the most isolated in the area to meet new friends, while at the same time improving their physical and emotional health and wellbeing.

"We are very much looking forward to welcoming new faces from across the county borough to the project."

Speaking at the launch of the service, Win Griffiths, Chairman of the ABMU Health Board said: "It is good to see that phase one of 'Promoting Independence through Neighbourliness' has proved successful in reducing loneliness and isolation for 475 older people. Phase two marks a welcome further development in offering health promotion and healthy living advice to some 600 older people and accepts the challenge of engaging with BME communities and older men.

"I firmly believe that the next three years will offer much to raise the esteem, independence and well-being of all those involved in the project."

Age Concern Neath Port Talbot is currently looking for volunteers to help organise and attend activities for the neighbourliness project.

ENDS

For further information on the content of the above release or to find out how to become a volunteer, please contact Dean Richards at Age Concern Neath Port Talbot on 01792 818200 or email ageconcern@neathporttalbot.org.uk