A NEW shop to support elderly people in the Malvern area has opened in the town centre.

Mayor Cynthia Palmer this week joined staff and volunteers from Age UK Malvern and District to cut the ribbon at the new store in Worcester Road.

The shop had previously been in Malvern Link but the charity decided to move to Great Malvern when a larger unit became available.

Chairman Anthony Hartley-Woolley MBE said: “Moving to larger premises has allowed us to expand our range of goods, and we are now selling small items of furniture and small electrical goods alongside clothing, books, CDs and bric-a-brac.

"This is proving very popular and we have a steady stream of customers asking if and when we will be getting more stock in.”

Malvern Hills has the highest percentage of elderly people in the county, with 26.5 per cent of people in the district aged 65 or over compared to 21.6 per cent in Worcestershire as a whole. By 2026 this figure is set to rise to over 30 per cent.

Chris Ashcroft, chief executive of Age UK Malvern and District, said: “With an ageing population, widespread funding cuts and increasing pressures on health and social care services it is more important than ever that the voluntary sector can offer robust services and a strong voice for the wants and needs of the elderly.

"As well as offering information and advice on a wide range of issues, we also provide a handyman scheme, home help services, foot care surgeries, social mornings and IT classes.

"Our vision for the future is to build on what we’ve achieved so far and continue to make Malvern Hills a better place to live for all people over the age of 50; the shop is an important part of that vision. Not only is it a great place to shop, with loads of great items for sale, it is an important source of income that will help support those services for many years to come.”