THE Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Geoff Reid and the Lady Mayoress of Bradford, Chris Reid officially opened a new Care and Wellbeing Cafe at St John's Church in Ben Rhydding on Monday.

The cafe provides entertainment, refreshments and a wide range of support and advice for older people and their carers. It is supported by many organisations including Creative Support, the Ilkley Moor Medical Practice, Age UK, Ilkley Round Table, the NHS, Dementia Friendly Ilkley, Abbeyfield, as well as volunteers from the St John's Parish Church and the local community.

There was entertainment from singer Ken Romano and many people including the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress joined in the dancing. They took a spin on the dance floor with 90-year-old Anne Pritchard, who relies on a wheelchair. Afterwards Mrs Pritchard said she found the event happy and uplifting and is looking forward to the next session. She also took the opportunity to have some low level health checks from Emma Garvey, who is an Apprentice Health Care Assistant at Ilkley Moor Medical Practice.

The aim of the cafe is to promote the social inclusion and prevent social isolation of older people who may be suffering from disabilities by enabling contact and friendship with others. It also provide access, advice and information in relation to other services, both statutory and non statutory which support older people and their carers relating to community activities, social groups and events, physical health, emotional wellbeing, mental health.

The sessions, which are free and will run from 1.30pm to 3.30pm on the third Monday of each month. The next session is on Monday, October 17, then November 20 and December 19. Free transport is available.

Andrea Pickersgill, Community Links facilitator with Creative Support said: "I would like to thank our funders, The Ilkley Round Table, without whose generosity the sessions would clearly not have been possible. I would also like to thank our team of amazing volunteers both from St Johns Parish Church and the local community who kindly gave their time to plan and organise and support these sessions.

"The session was also kindly supported by staff from the Ilkley Moor Medical Practice who were on hand to provide advice and assistance in relation to health care as well as carry out “low level” health checks such as blood pressure and diabetes checks.

"Many people took advantage of this very useful service. We aim to provide not only a happy, uplifting afternoon for our community but also easy access to other services."