A NEW club for the elderly and disabled is to be set up in Holsworthy at the Scout Hut from the beginning of August, writes Christine Williams.

It will be a successor to the Holsworthy Day Centre, which has operated in the town for the past 23 years of which the last five have been at Holsworthy Hospital.

The day centre’s annual meeting was held at the hospital on July 12, and was attended by staff, trustees and volunteers, as well as county councillor Barry Parsons, town councillor Pat Smith and Jo Manley, groups manager of Torridge’s voluntary services.

In her annual report, chairman, Wendy Millar, said it had been a difficult year in which hard decisions had had to be taken about the unavoidable closure of the day centre at the end of July.

In her report manager, Anne Jose, said that Devon Social Services had agreed that there was no comparable service in the area, but in the current prevailing climate of austerity they were concentrating on providing care for older people in their homes.

However, many people either did not want, or were unable, to spend all day at home alone and preferred the care, companionship and wide variety of social activities offered at the day centre.

It also gave their carers a day off and peace of mind. She outlined how they had reached the stage where it was impossible for the day centre to continue as it had done for many years.

Therefore, with the support of Torridge Voluntary Services, a new charity with a new name will be set up at the Scout Hut offering the same kind of service as well as expanding into more social activities open to all.

It will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting on August 2. Anyone requiring further information should phone 01409 259935.