Fiona Bruce MP praises launch of new ‘Scholar Green Friendship Group’
Fiona Bruce MP recently met with Andy Tester, Health and Well-Being Officer at Plus Dane Housing to hear of the plan for a new ‘Scholar Green Friendship Group’ for older people in Scholar Green following the success of a similar initiative in Congleton.
The launch of the group is being held between 1.30pm and 2.30pm on Tuesday 7th May at the Rising Sun Inn in Scholar Green. The event is a ‘meet and greet’ session for anybody interested to bring their ideas and wishes for potential trips out, meals, activities and to get to know new people from the area.
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| Fiona Bruce and Andy Tester in Scholar Green |
Andy Tester said of the project “Having previously started a similar group in Congleton we wanted to start something in Scholar Green which has an aging population who can struggle to get out due to limited transport in the rural setting. The idea is to bring something to Scholar Green rather than asking residents to find their way out of the area to Alsager or Congleton. It is hoped that these groups help to ease the sense of social isolation that can arise in the older population and bring people in their local community together.”
The group, whilst funded by Plus Dane, will be run by the members and so all can contribute to what format the group takes.
Fiona Bruce MP said “I commend the setting up of these Friendship Groups – they are an excellent way to provide a truly local service and build all important community links. My constituency stands in an area with, proportionally, the largest ageing population in the North West and it is so important that their needs are recognised and met. Keeping active, pursuing interests and volunteering are all beneficial for us as we get older and these friendship groups are a positive way to encourage this and help us all ‘age well’.”
