AN Otley-based charity for older people has received a donation from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation as part of its support for charities across the UK.

Otley Action for Older People received a donation of £1,990 from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation after being nominated by James Holdsworth, a compliance associate for Yorkshire Building Society, based at the company’s Broad Gate offices in Leeds. James nominated the charity after it supported his late father, John Holdsworth, a former bank manager in Otley.

Otley Action for Older People (OAOP) is a long established and successful community-based organisation working on behalf of the older population of Otley, Pool and Arthington. The charity is supported by over 100 volunteers who are trained and experienced at working with older people.

OAOP supports over 1,400 older people to enable them to live independently, safely, and healthily, through the provision of a wide variety of activities and services including events and classes, support with administration and help with transport. The group is particularly committed to providing services for members with memory loss, and their carers.

The donation will enable the charity to buy a new wheelchair and new electronic devices for use by its members.

James Holdsworth, compliance associate at Yorkshire Building Society said: “Otley Action for Older People provided my dad with such brilliant support in the later years of his life so I know first-hand what life-changing and crucial services the charity provides to older people and their families in Otley.

“I am delighted that my nomination for funding was taken forward by Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation and OAOP will be able to buy new equipment to continue doing its great work.”

Sue Trainor, centre manager at Otley Action for Older People said: “The primary aim of our organisation is to enable older people to live independently in their own homes and pro-actively participate within their communities. We currently support over 1,400 members across the Otley, Pool and Arthington area, so donations such as this, from Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation, enable us to ensure we have the equipment and skills to deliver our services.”

Yorkshire Building Society Charitable Foundation is funded through the Small Change Big Difference® scheme where members donate the pennies from the interest on their accounts just once a year to help smaller charities around the UK.

Last year, the Charitable Foundation passed the £9million mark for donations to charities nominated by members and colleagues from around the UK.

For more information about our Small Change Big Difference® scheme visit www.ybs.co.uk/charitablefoundation For more information about Otley Action for Older People visit otleyactionforolderpeople.org.uk/