HELP for older people in Blackburn is to be boosted with a special £300,000 scheme.

The lottery-funded project Friends for Life hopes to end social isolation in the area for the over-60s.

It is hoped it will provide specialist support and a network of friends for people experiencing problems including bereavement, retirement and ill health.

Providing help, advice and activities for older people, a voluntary team of 30 senior citizens are to be recruited to take the lead.

The project, which has been launched by Blackburn with Darwen Council and numerous partners is to be based at the Energy Zone at Newfield Drive in Blackburn.

Agencies involved in the scheme include Age UK, Refresh, the Care Network, the Carers Service, the CVS and the NHS.

The Energy Zone base will offer a combination of activity space as well as a social meeting place where older people can get together to pursue new activities and spend time with one another.

Project co-ordinator Patrick Deeth said: “The Friends for Life project aims to reduce social isolation for people who have contributed so much to our communities and who deserve our care and attention.

“Importantly we are looking to support people who experience some of the hardest moments in life such as bereavement, redundancy or retirement or ill health, or the ill health of their loved ones which sometimes means they need to become permanent carers for others.

“All these incidents can seriously affect an older person’s well-being, physically, mentally and emotionally.

“If Friends for Life can be there to help, support and guide older people in times of their greatest need, then it will be a marvellous achievement.”