OLDER people in Tavistock and the surrounding villages are set to benefit from a significant lottery grant announced last week. Tavistock Area Support Services, a local, independent charity that provides facilities and support for older people in the area, is to receive £35,830 from the Big Lottery Fund. This will enable them to appoint a full-time chief officer to build on and extend the services they provide. Alan Miller, chairman of the trustees said: ?We are delighted to receive this grant from the Big Lottery Fund which we see as an acknowledgement of all that we have achieved. ?Over the twenty years since we first opened our doors, we have built a community centre in Tavistock which is the hub of the services we provided and purchased two specially adapted minibuses ? essential in a rural area with minimal public transport. Mr Miller said TASS did not receive any funds from a central organisation. ?To a large extent we are self-financing but as we are actively involved in helping older people, especially those living in isolation, we do look to the statutory services to assist. ?About ten per cent of our income currently comes from Social Services for specific activities, but with the planned extension of services through the new position of chief officer, we trust that there will be a commensurate increase in financial support.? Activities are held at the community centre and drop-in centres in eight of the villages surrounding Tavistock. Peta Humphries, co-ordinator of TASS, said: ?TASS provides an opportunity for friends to meet. The object is to draw them into the life of the community and to enable them to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. ?We rely totally on volunteers to help our clients ? it doesn?t take a vast commitment, you can do half a day once a month or an hour a week. ?Anybody?s time can be put to good use and you get such a buzz out of it. If you want to help, please telephone me at the Anchorage Centre on 01822 614309.? TASS also wants the community to know its facilities are there to be used ? both the Anchorage Centre in Tavistock which is open each week day, and the village drop-ins held once a week in Milton Abbot, Lifton, Horrabridge, Yelverton, Mary Tavy, Buckland Monachorum and Bere Alston. The Big Lottery Fund, launched last June, distributes half of all National Lottery good cause funding across the UK.
