A CHARITY has launched a door-to-door shopping service to help improve the health of elderly residents.

Thirsk, Sowerby and District Community Care Association has received a £48,800 grant from the People’s Health Trust to provide twice-weekly coffee mornings and a shopping service for people aged over 60 in the town.

The association will work in partnership with Thirsk Minibus Association and East Thirsk Community Hall to provide transport for participants from their homes to the coffee mornings, which will feature budget and meal planning sessions.

Ellen Cross, of the association, said shopping trips would follow the coffee mornings, during which volunteers would support older people in a variety of ways, such as carrying their shopping or reading food labels.

She said the scheme aimed to guide participants towards healthy eating choices and the regular social interaction would provide mental health benefits to isolated people.

She said: “We are launching the scheme in the East Thirsk area as there is a significant amount of isolation there.

“We talked to health workers who said it is harder for older people to get into town from there.”

It is hoped the scheme, which has funding for two years, will be expanded across the town and Sowerby in the Spring.

The association said it hoped to be able to direct participants towards the range of services it offers, including meals on wheels and a car scheme in which volunteers drive elderly people to places they need to visit.

The next coffee morning and shopping service will be held on Tuesday, Jan 21, at 10am.

For details, call 01845-523115.