A PROGRAMME which uses the experience of older people and military veterans to make a difference in local communities launches at the Dracaena Centre in Falmouth on June 15.

The Big Lottery Funded programme from Active Plus tackles loneliness and isolation and will help older people to get more active, more informed and more involved in their communities through activities facilitated by military veterans.

Paul Buxton, Communities Team Leader at Active Plus said: “Active Plus Communities is all about unlocking the potential of older people who may be feeling vulnerable, lonely or disconnected from their community. It builds on our successful Silver Dreams programme, but is even better because we can work with communities for longer and really support older people to get involved and make a difference.”

Over a four year period, Active Plus Communities will deliver in 20 communities across Cornwall, with injured military veterans supporting 400 older people through six-week Active Plus courses and ongoing support to develop community events and projects, led by the older people themselves.

Paul, a former Royal Marine Medic said: “The success of Active Plus delivery is that people help themselves through helping others. This applies equally to the people who attend our programmes and the military veterans who deliver them. In Active Plus Communities we take this one step further by working together to develop events and projects that can support the wider community. We are really grateful to the Big Lottery for having faith in us to deliver such an important programme”

The first course starts at 12.30pm on Monday 15 June at the Dracaena Centre in Falmouth. Anyone living in the area who is over 50 can join-in, and there is no upper age-limit. People wanting to find out more can contact Paul on 01326 567174 or email paul@activeplus.org.uk