Lottery grant helping to cut isolation of older people

The Life Centre, in High Street, already runs services for young people and is extending its work after receiving three years of funding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Activities will include a weekly job club, computer training, exercise classes, art classes, healthy-eating workshops and the use of three allotments in Holme Road site, in addition to existing youth club.

As a prelude to the launch on Saturday, May 21, the centre is from Monday inviting people of all ages to free computer taster sessions.

An estimated one in five people in the UK aged between 55 and 64 have never used the internet, rising to three in five of 65-year-olds, with the main barriers being a lack of confidence and understanding.

The project is being run by Living Springs Ministries and has created five new jobs.

Centre manager Dr Alex Appiah said: “We have a great opportunity to provide the people of the Western Wolds with facilities and activities which encourage local participation, community-building and a welcoming place for young people to come.

“With our newly-assembled team we have increased the range of activities for residents and invested in a brand new 16-computer IT suite to add to the facilities. We’d be delighted to welcome everyone to look around and share in the celebrations.”

Ben Crawforth, the new community development officer, said: “One of our biggest early projects will be to cultivate the three allotments we have taken on at Holme Road, to provide produce for our healthy-eating workshops. We’re looking for lots of volunteers to help us.”

The project aims to help more than 900 local people to interact, make new friends, and develop social and practical skills.

It hopes to improve the life skills of 150 people and reduce social isolation for 135 adults.

It also aims to recruit and develop 45 volunteers during the three years to become better trained and gain experience of a working environment to improve their self-esteem. The launch will be attended by East Riding Council leader Stephen Parnaby.