AGE UK Bradford District has been awarded £10,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with older people in the district.

The charity will use the cash to continue to meet the level of significant demand due to the number of older people who have either been placed on full lockdown or have responded to advice to self-isolate. They are then going to create bespoke packages of support through listening to what individual people tell them.

The charity works directly with older people across the area. In 'normal times' they meet with them and talk with them every day. In these challenging times they are talking to as many of them as possible directly via phone calls and video calls or from an appropriate distance when dropping off shopping or prescriptions.

The funding will also see the Information and Advice service the charity be expanded to cover seven days a week.

This is seen as critical as requests have increased by more than 300 per cent since the lockdown began.

Chris Alexander, Director of Business Development, said: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.

"Now, thanks to National Lottery players we will be able to continue to support older people in the area in a way that meets their needs during the coronavirus crisis”