A new charity to embrace getting older and support vulnerable people has been launched in Richmond.

Embracing Age has been set up by trained nurse Tina English, who previously worked at Age Concern Kingston and Age UK Richmond.

Ms English said through her previous work, she noticed gaps in the borough which needed to be filled by using resources from the faith sector.

The new charity aims to embrace frail older people with love and practical support, motivated by the Christian faith, and to encourage people to embrace getting older.

Funded by Richmond Parish Lands, the main focus of the charity is to offer friendship and support to people in care homes, who are twice as likely to feel isolated than those living at home.

Ms English said: "While other local charities offer valuable befriending services to older people in the community, we will look to offer support to older people in care homes by offering friendship and other one-to-one activities, such as using technology to stay in touch with family and friends, or simply chatting, or reading to someone with visual impairment.

"The list is endless and will be determined by the needs and desires of individual residents."

The charity is currently seeking volunteers who will be trained to respond to individual needs in liaison with care home staff and relatives.

Ms English added: "While Embracing Age is a faith-inspired charity, volunteers will offer friendship and support to older people of all faiths and none, and all volunteers will be welcomed provided they have a desire to support older people and are able to be supportive of the ethos of the charity."

Interested volunteers should visit embracingage.org.uk or call 020 3778 0035.