SOUTH Craven elders who want to remain in their own homes are to receive support from new services.

North Yorkshire County Council has commissioned a range of community services to help people stay well and live independently in their own homes for as long as possible.

The County Council has worked with residents and partners to develop a range of contracts which will help to build upon the approaches already developed through the County Council’s Stronger Communities, Living Well and Public Health programmes.

Stronger Communities provides start-up funding and advice for community projects across North Yorkshire to help people to support each other.

Living Well helps to strengthen people’s social networks to tackle loneliness and isolation and help prevent problems developing to avoid people needing to use formal health and social care services.

The Public Health programme seeks to improve and protect the health of everyone in North Yorkshire and enable people to lead healthier, happier lives.

Cllr Caroline Dickinson, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Public Health, Prevention and Supported Housing, said that helping people to stay well and independent in North Yorkshire was a priority for the County Council.

She said: “We already have strong support services in many parts of the county, and the new contracts will build on the work done so far.

“They will have an even greater focus on supporting the growth of community strengths and resources, and achieving better health and wellbeing outcomes for local people.

“They will play an important part in our overall investment to support people to help them avoid either the development of health problems or the escalation of existing problems which result in a need for long-term support from health and social care services.

“They will also provide great volunteering opportunities.”