Last month, the NHS set up on online pledge for people to sign up to become a ‘Winter Friend’ for older members of their communities.

Those taking part pledged to look in on elderly friends or neighbours over the winter months, ensuring they have enough supplies and emergency numbers to hand Actress Joanna Lumley was the first to sign up to the pledge, saying: “A little help really does go a long way. You will also find, I’m sure, that giving a bit of your time in this way is hugely rewarding. Older people can be physically frail, but they have a lifetime’s wisdom and experience to share.”

The pledge was welcomed by groups including the Keighley and Bradford Pensioners Association, Age UK Bradford and District, and Shipley-based HALE (Health Action Local Engagement), which is taking its outreach befriending scheme bus to various locations this year, offering isolated older residents health checks and information about activities and sessions relevant to their needs.

The Bradford Council-funded scheme also focuses on building ‘We Care’ networks within communities, encouraging people to be more aware of older neighbours and to offer help with jobs such as putting bins out, collecting washing or getting to the shops in bad weather.

HALE health networker Shanisha Barrino said: “We know that by helping people to access local activities and services we can reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.”

Now Bradford’s Inspired Neighbourhoods group has launched a project offering help to people over 50 suffering mental health and wellbeing problems, due to issues like loneliness.

The community organisation, which works with regeneration and neighbourhood health management, is running Inspired and Active Minds, for people with mild to moderate mental health issues.

“The Inspired Neighbourhood team have a wealth of experience working with local communities in delivering innovative health programmes. Our trained staff have the skills to work alongside Bradford’s diverse communities and believe that good quality health-care should be accessed by everyone,” said Wafaa Nawaz, who is running the project.

“The Inspired and Active Minds programme aims to support hard-to-reach individuals in maintaining good health and helping them to access key services within their area. We engage with and link people with mental health issues to support networks near their home.

“The project focuses to support individuals with mild to moderate mental health issues, anxiety and depression.”

He adds: “A significant number of older people suffer physiological or emotional distress associated with factors linked to health, employment, loss of independence, loneliness and losing a loved one. These changes manifest in older people suffering from mild, moderate and in certain cases clinical mental health problems. People suffering from dementia and depression and their carers need support in identifying services which provide non-medical health and wellbeing support.”

The project is appealing to anyone running groups for people over-50 with mental health or wellbeing issues to get in touch.

“We can come to their group to talk informally about people’s problems, provide support and advice, make appropriate referrals to professional support and provide stimulating, fun and creative sessions for groups,” said Wafaa.

“We run friendly, informal sessions at community venues where people can come and have a chat, get support and advice, be put in touch with people who can help, and take part in fun activities.”

Inspired Neighbourhoods is based at the Thornbury Centre, Leeds Old Road, Bradford. For more information about Inspired and Active Minds, ring (01274) 665598, email info@incic.co.uk or visit incic.co.uk.