AGE Concern moved into its new headquarters in Nelson Street, Barrow, in April 1998 and hoped to extend and improve services to elderly people.

An innovation would be a day care centre for elderly mentally frail people, which Age Concern hoped would ease the strain on carers.

Age Concern staff had been settling in after a hectic few days moving into their modernised single-story building next to the Catholic Youth Centre and would provide all the services formerly provided at their Hartington Street premises.

The Nelson Street headquarters were open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

Age Concern chief officer for Barrow, Carol Twigger, said the move to Nelson Street was necessary to ensure that the badly-needed day care centre could be opened.

The Nelson Street premises had been renovated by Manpower Services Commission workers, professional builders and a good deal of voluntary help, said Miss Twigger.

Age Concern was to hold ‘surgeries’ at various centres around the town for people who could not get to its new headquarters. The first one already arranged was to be held every Wednesday at Mr T’s in Cavendish Street, run in conjunction with the popular coffee club.

Age Concern shops would also be able to help those who could not get to their Nelson Street premises.

Miss Twigger said she saw the setting up of a day care centre as an important step in improving care for elderly people and added that it was very important to give carers a break.

Age Concern also planned eventually to reintroduce a drop-in centre for senior citizens.

In December 1996, the Barrow Ladies' Circle put together Christmas parcels full of goodies to make the festive season extra special for some local senior citizens.

The parcels had been distributed by Age Concern to elderly people in the area who had suffered various hardships throughout the year.

Age Concern was also hoping that Christmas would be accident-free for elderly people in Barrow. Members were helping to light up homes by providing plug-in safety lights, bought with a donation from Barrow's accident prevention committee.