Age Concern Leominster and District has received a boost to help support older people in the battle to fight the effects of low incomes.
A Nexus grant of £4,628 has just been awarded to Age Concern at Leominster, which will be used to fund a new programme of talks to be given in outlying rural areas on the subject of dealing with low income. The Nexus grant scheme is administered by Community First throughout the Rural Regeneration Zone for Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Shropshire.
This is a three-year programme, which provides grants of up to a maximum of £5,000 to voluntary and community organisations able to satisfy the qualifying criteria.
Commenting on the new funding, Veronica Wood, Age Concern’s rural information officer at Leominster said: “For some time we have been running a limited number of rural information surgeries across North Herefordshire and this has bought into sharp focus the real need to reach those living in isolation in the county and provide good quality information and advice.
“The Nexus grant will help us to achieve this and make older people more aware of what is available for them.”
It is planned to use village halls and sheltered housing complexes, as well as other venues where older people can be reached, such as existing Over 60s clubs. The aim is to arrange for 12 venues to be visited on a three-month cycle. Talks will focus on fuel poverty, benefit claims, income generation and similar related topics. Follow- up home visits will be offered when appropriate.
Anyone who knows groups of older people who could benefit from being included in the scheme should contact Veronica Wood on 01568 611054 or call in at Age Concern Leominster and District at 30 West Street, Leominster.