Monthly Elder Day to start in Barnstaple town centre

Age Concern has partnered with Barnstaple Town Council, Barnstaple Library and North Devon Council to provide Elder Day. Elder Day is in Barnstaple and is the first Wednesday of each month, 10am-3pm.

Amanda Howard, the CEO of Age Concern said: “We are aware that some older people need some extra support to be able to access Barnstaple’s wonderful facilities and services.

“We want everyone to be able to go shopping, go to the Post Office, the Bank or Building Society; to have a hairdresser’s appointment, visit the Library or look around Barnstaple Museum; people might want to see a film or a show or meet a friend for coffee or lunch. We are so lucky in North Devon to have such an attractive Market Town with so much to offer.”

Elder Day provides a Waiting Room with free refreshments and accessible toilets at Barnstaple Bus Station, located at The Voice Radio Station. Age Concern staff and volunteers are available to provide escorts into and around Barnstaple, helping people with shopping and to access facilities and services.

Barnstaple Town Council are providing a free Community Café at The Shambles Community Room (on the High Street, next to the wonderful Pannier Market). Help with shopping and escorts around Town and to the Bus Station are available here. The Pannier Market has recently been refurbished and offers excellent new toilet facilities.

Barnstaple Library are providing a free Wellbeing Café (10am-12noon), with wellbeing support and accessible toilets. Help with library and audio books and information about Library activities, escorts to the Town Centre and the Bus Station are available here.

Free electric scooters and manual wheelchairs (subject to availability) are available from Age Concern. If you need someone to help you with your wheelchair, please let us know.

Elder Day helpers will be wearing bright yellow Elder Day tops.

Age Concern and North Devon Council are providing a Pop-Up Help Desk in Green Lanes Shopping Centre. The Help Desk will offer help with Benefit Applications, Attendance Allowance Forms, Blue Badge Parking Applications, Housing, Energy, Council Tax and more.

Green Lanes has a new Changing Places toilet, for people with complex disabilities, near the existing toilet facilities.

Amanda says: "The next Elder Day is Wednesday 4th October, if you need any help to plan your Elder Day, please phone Age Concern on 01271 445135.

"We look forward to seeing you soon."