COMMUNITY Action, which works extremely hard to prevent older and disabled people becoming isolated and lonely, is banking on success after moving into its new headquarters, the former Lloyds Bank building in Malvern Link, to make it easier for staff, volunteers and service users to access the charity.

The charity, established in Malvern in 1972, was formerly in premises above the Town Council in Belle Vue Terrace. The move across Malvern will give them more of a street presence and visibility.

West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin who was invited to do the ceremonial ribbon-cutting at a gathering of stakeholders and volunteers as the premises were opened said: “The transformation of the old bank is stunning and as someone who has trekked up the stairs at the old offices, I am delighted to see the charity in a more user-friendly office.

“Community Action delivers vital support for local people and I have supported its work for many years, so I was honoured to be invited to open the new headquarters.

“I hope that the new base helps the charity to grow and that Community Action will thrive, helping elderly and vulnerable people to get out and about more often.”

Speaking at the official opening, Councillor Clive Hooper, Mayor of Malvern, said “I was very pleased to have been invited to come to your official opening, to have the opportunity to meet trustees, staff and volunteers, and to see how well you have adapted to your new and much more prominent location in the town.

“Your association with Malvern Town Council goes back over 20 years and, until November last year, the Council was able to provide you with rent-free accommodation in the building you shared with us in Belle Vue Terrace. That enabled us to show our appreciation for all the work and range of services that you provide for the community – most notably community transport, but also your Sunday Tea Club in local churches, a film classics cinema club at The Cube, and more recently the very successful Men's Shed, among others.

“May you go from strength to strength!”

Community Action’s Kate Walton said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Harriett Baldwin and Clive Hooper to launch the beginning of a new chapter for us.

“Our new premises provide a really visible presence to raise awareness of the whole range of services we can offer and we’ve already seen a steady stream of visitors.”

The charity operates a wide range of services for local residents, voluntary organisations and community groups in and around the Malvern area. These range from running a minibus and car service to organising Sunday tea clubs and a film classics cinema club.

Their office is open from 9am to 3.30 pm Monday – Thursday; Friday 9am until 12.30pm. There is an answerphone for all other times.