Blow for Selby's elderly as Age UK announces it is closing the town's branch

A North Yorkshire branch of a national charity for elderly people is closing down, it has been confirmed.
The Selby branch of Age UK will wind down its operations, including its social day centres, befriending mornings, and door-to-door shopping buses.
Photo: AdobeThe Selby branch of Age UK will wind down its operations, including its social day centres, befriending mornings, and door-to-door shopping buses.
Photo: Adobe
The Selby branch of Age UK will wind down its operations, including its social day centres, befriending mornings, and door-to-door shopping buses. Photo: Adobe

The Selby branch of Age UK will wind down its operations, including its social day centres, befriending mornings, and door-to-door shopping buses.

The charity, which is based on Micklegate in Selby town centre, also ran a short-term pet care scheme for owners who needed assistance, as well as assisted trips to GP and hospital appointments.

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The closure is due to financial difficulties during the pandemic, according to the charity, and the decision was made after a full review of its services.

The charity will cease operations on September 30 later this year.

Jackie Mook, the chief officer at Age UK Selby District, said: “We are very sorry to have to give this news and conscious it will be upsetting for many local people who have benefited from, delivered or otherwise supported our services.

“We will be working as hard as we can over the next few weeks and months to ensure older people know where to turn to for on-going help in the future.

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“In the meantime, we would like to thank all our hardworking staff, volunteers and supporters for their loyalty, dedication and commitment to Age UK Selby District and to older people in our area.”

North Yorkshire County Council has said other local schemes will step in to meet demand left by the closure, including Sherburn Visiting Scheme and Tadcaster Volunteer Cars.

The council estimated in 2019 that by 2025 there will be 3,300 additional people aged 65 or over living in Selby, an increase of 19 per cent.

In 2019, there were 589 people aged 65 and over with a dementia diagnosis, and the council said there were potentially 300 more unrecorded.

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