Government aid will help OAPs

ECS - an independent voluntary organisation set up to improve the quality of life for borough residents - was chosen as one of 170 organisations across the UK from an application list of 740 to receive up to two years funding from the pension Service Partnership Fund.

The fund, launched in London by pensions minister Malcolm Wicks, is aimed at financing local initiatives to improve take-up of older people's benefits.

Now ECS is set to deliver a face-to-face service to customers with visits to housebound elderly a priority.

They hope to contact about 3,000 people over the duration of the scheme, helping them to complete forms for benefits and to provide verification of documents where necessary.

Manager of the ECS home information support project, Julie Lamont, said: "We are delighted. It means we can really promote what we do."

The ECS bid was for funding for a part-time worker to concentrate specifically on pension credit.

Now the organisation's campaign to reach eligible pensioners is set to swing into action on March 1.

"We will be trying to approach people in an informal fashion.

"As part of ECS, we have a large range of clients attached to various services, so we will be approaching them and through them approaching their friends, family and neighbours.

"We want to do it in a relaxed way but make sure that people eligible for pension credit get it," said Julie.

Speaking at the launch of the Pension Service Partnership Fund at the Royal National Institute of the Blind, Mr Wicks said: "The new fund will allow a mighty coalition of organisations to deliver extra help to hard pressed pensioners."

Welcoming the scheme, Peter Molyneux, chairman of Age Concern Chandler's Ford, said: "We run a benefit advice service for people and we work closely with Eastleigh Community Service.

"We hope it will encourage more people to get help when they come to making applications for benefits."