Elderly given lift by team's efforts (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Elderly given lift by team's efforts

11:09am Monday 2nd November 2009 in News By Hannah Baker

A community group which runs leisure activities for vulnerable people in Wyke has been nominated for a Bradford’s Best Award.

St Mary’s New Horizons, based at St Mary’s Church community centre, is up for Bradford’s Best Community Group.

The organisation hosts a luncheon club and entertainment for people with special needs and also provides care in the community to help older people in the area remain living at home.

It also runs a writers workshop, bingo, garden club and art and craft groups.

Jean Walker, who nominated the group for the award, said the organisation’s well-being cafe sessions helped people with special needs such as dementia.

She said: “I have attended as a visitor and the work and pleasure it gives these people is quite uplifting.

“All the workers are dedicated people and they also run a luncheon club on Mondays for people of later years who are lonely and feel iso-lated.

“These senior citizens are entertained for most of the day and go home feeling very happy and wanted I am sure.”

Mrs Walker has also nominated Kay Wright, St Mary’s New Horizons’ development manager, for the Bradford’s Best Citizen Award.

She is responsible for the menus and running the cafe sessions as well as a befriending group to help people who may feel isolated.

Mrs Walker said: “I know from personal experience that Mrs Wright gives many hours of her own time to make sure these projects run like clockwork. She has certainly made a big difference to a large number of older people in Wyke and district over many years.”