HMR Circle features on ITV for innovative way of tackling isolation in older people

The Circle group for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale recently featured on Granada reports for its innovative way of tackling isolation in older people.

ITV reporter Andrew Fletcher spent a couple of days with HMR Circle’s volunteer drivers’ service, which offer lifts to social events across the borough for those who may otherwise be isolated.

The piece features Barbara, a HMR Circle and volunteer drivers service member, and her journey to the Kirkholt Lunch Club-Club with Stephen, one of the volunteer drivers.

• http://itv.com/news/granada/2019-12-30/international-recognition-for-rochdale-based-volunteer-driver-scheme/

The service also recently hosted delegates from the Center for Community Social Economy at Yongsan, in South Korea.

With the group being so large, David Bottomley, CEO Rochdale AFC kindly offered the boardroom at the Crown Oil Arena to HMR Circle to accommodate the visitors.

After the meeting, both Rochdale Hornets and Rochdale AFC, along with HMR Circle, presented the visitors with mementos of their visit with the South Korean visitors reciprocating.

 

 

HMR Circle is a membership-based service open to anyone over the age of 50, working boroughwide in Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood and the Pennine villages.

Membership includes access to a network of friendly and vetted local people who can help with gardening, technology and odd jobs around the house.

Thanks to the organisation’s volunteer driver scheme, members can get out and about to try new things, as suggested by members, and meet others with similar interests.

If you are interested in becoming involved with HMR Circle, please call on 01706 751165 or visit their website:

• www.hmrcircle.org.uk