A TAVISTOCK-based charity, dedicated to improving the lives of older and vulnerable residents, will take delivery of a new 16-seater minibus today (Thursday), thanks in part to funding from the Devon committee of Help the Aged.
Chris Matthews, chairman of Devon Help the Aged, will hand over the keys to the minibus to Tavistock Area Support Services this morning.
The new vehicle will be used by TASS to transport people with physical disabilities or restricted mobility living in and around the area to the Anchorage Centre in Tavistock, where the group offers a range of social and practical services and activities.
Peta Humphries, co-ordinator of TASS, said: ?We are delighted the Help the Aged Devon committee helped us buy our minibus vehicle with its generous grant.
?Transport options for older people in this area who wish to attend the Anchorage Centre are fairly limited and resources are often over stretched.
?Our new minibus will enable us to extend the provision of dedicated transport to the Centre and we look forward to using it.?
Chris Matthews, chairman of Help the Aged Devon, said the charity was happy to support Tavistock Area Support Services.
Chris said: ?The social contact provided by the group?s Centre is essential for older people who wish to continue leading active, independent lives, especially in a rural community such as this one.?
Tavistock Area Support Services runs the Anchorage Centre, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, offering a range of activities, including an advice service, access to IT, tea dances, music and movement classes and line dancing.
Many of the older people who attend the centre live in rural areas, so providing reliable, specially- adapted minibus transport is paramount to the organisation?s ability to help them.
The new vehicle will also be available to other local groups and residential homes.
The minibus was purchased through the Help the Aged Senior Mobility campaign.
Additional funding came from the Countryside Agency, the Henry Smith Charity, Devon County Council and other funding sources.
The Senior Mobility campaign from Help the Aged supports community projects working with older people to help them meet their transport needs, via fund-raising advice and grants.
Help the Aged are determined to increase the number of community projects and older people it assists.
Projects which feel they could benefit from support from the Senior Mobility campaign are invited to get in touch with Graham Lale to find out more about funding information.
Mr Lale can be contacted by telephone on 0207 2391825 or by e-mail at: [email protected]">[email protected]