A HEALTHY living charity will reach out to over-50s in the Ilkley area this month with visits from a mobile outreach venue offering information, health checks and free refreshments.

The Wharfedale Cares scheme will see the converted bus run by charity HALE (Health Action Local Engagement) make six visits to venues in Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale.

From Wednesday August 13 to Friday August 29, a local healthy living charity will be reaching out to Wharfedale residents as part of their “We Care” neighbourly help initiative.

Award winning charity, HALE , will take the vehicle to to various locations and encourage people aged 50 and over who are isolated, to come on board and access information on local social groups/activities alongside free refreshments and health checks.

The scheme is funded by Bradford Council, and will also focus on building ‘We Care’ networks within communities.

These encourage residents to be more aware of their neighbours, particularly those who are older, and to offer help with jobs such as putting bins out, bringing washing in or getting to the shops in bad weather.

The overall aim of the project is to reduce feelings of isolation and improve the overall well-being of these residents.

Services available on board the mobile outreach venue include warm refreshments, health checks, nutrition advice, information about local groups, activities and services and how to access them, help to attend activities, general health advice and information, and details of how to become part of the local We Care Neighbourly Help Scheme.

The “Wharfedale Cares” project will run for six sessions over three weeks.

The outreach unit will visit Ilkley and Wharefedale Medical Practice, Springs Lane, Ilkley, on Wednesday August 13, from 9am to 11am, and Wednesday August 20 from 9am to 11am. It will be at the Clarke Foley Centre, Cunliffe Road, between 1pm and 3pm on Friday August 15 and Friday August 22, at Grange Road, Burley-in-Wharfedale, on Wednesday August 27 between 1pm and 3pm, and on Valley Drive, close to Emmandjay Court, Ben Rhydding, from 1pm to 3pm on Friday August 29.

HALE is a healthy living project set up in 2003 which became an independent charity in 2008.

It works on mental health and wellbeing, nutrition and diabetes, sexual health and alcohol awareness. It offers a range of courses, groups and outreach activities and has twice won a GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT award in recognition of its outstanding health work.

HALE works across Shipley, Frizinghall, Bingley, Baildon, Wharfedale, Windhill and Wrose, and Manningham, in areas where there are significant health inequalities.

Full details of the days, times, and locations of the sessions can be found on the HALE website: haleproject.org.uk.