A CARE company has launched a community project to help older people feel more welcome in the towns that they live in.

Now new to Bicester, Home Instead Senior Care, is partnering with shops and businesses in its Come Inside and Take A Seat campaign.

Shops taking part will display stickers on their window saying ‘come inside and take a seat’ and older people can have a sit down and a drink of water.

The concept came from New York and was adopted in Nottingham, where more than 300 businesses have signed up.

After its success in Oxford, it launched in Bicester yesterday where around 15 businesses are on board.

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Next month it is hoped it will be brought to Banbury.

Maria Finn, recruitment manager at Home Instead Senior Care, said: “When I have been out in the town just having a chat with an elderly person you will find that you’re the only person that they would have had a conversation with.

“I think with the Come Inside and Take a Seat campaign it will not only help with this but they can take the weight off their feet rather than just go to a café to spend money they might not have. So it is a practical thing as well as bringing the community together.”

The 'age friendly' campaign aims to tackle issues of social isolation and motivate older people to feel confident about leaving their homes and to get involved with their community.

Some of the businesses that are involved so far in the scheme include Anytime Fitness, Specsavers, Ahmeys Pharmacy, Robert Stanley Opticians, Coffee 1, Tesco, USA nails, Gents Groom Room and Beauty and the Boutique.

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John Edwards, owner of Robert Stanley Opticians in Bicester is keen to get the campaign started.

He said: “I am very happy to be involved, and it will make a difference to the elderly in the community by not only offering a seat but a conversation, bringing the community together.”

Businesses who came together yesterday for the launch in the town included Robert Stanley Opticians, Specsavers, Scrivens and Any Time Fitness.

Rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission, Home Instead Senior Care is a company that brings care to the elderly in their own homes.

It has branches in Banbury, Bicester and Oxford and provides services such as home help and housekeeping, Dementia care including Alzheimer's disease, as well as providing companionship for people who just want company and conversation.

The care company also try to help the elderly who are alone during the Christmas period.

Their festive campaign in the run up to Christmas called Santa To A Senior has been taking place for the past two years with Tesco.

It is run by a number of Home Instead offices in collaboration with other local organisations where people are asked to donate gifts which are then wrapped and delivered to older people who might otherwise not receive anything.

Last year the campaign helped The Royal Voluntary Service in Banbury, The Forget Me Nots in Bicester and Age UK. For more information, go to homeinstead.co.uk/northoxfordshire.