A BRANCH of an over 50s support service is set to remain open following the release of allocated council funding.

Test Valley Borough Council (TVBC) has released Age Concern Hampshire £4,000 in grant money to enable the charity to continue to deliver services from its Town Mill House base.

As previously reported in the Advertiser, the charity’s volunteers had banded together in a bid to maintain the provision of the branch’s service after funding issues had cast doubts over its future.

Now, with TVBC providing this tranche of financial support, it has been confirmed that the service will continue to operate.

Helen Callen, Age Concern Hampshire chief executive officer, said: “I am extremely pleased that thanks to Test Valley Borough Council’s ongoing support and our amazing volunteers who have both been instrumental in ensuring that we are able to continue to operate from Town Mill House in Andover.

“I would like to say a big thank you to all those involved.”

The £4,000 grant is part of a funding pledge that was agreed by the council in February last year. It was confirmed that TVBC would contribute £4,000 per year for three years up to 2021, with this latest grant the second of those three instalments to be handed over.

The funds will go towards keeping the Town Mill office open, ensuring that the information service and foot care offering, which have been delivered from Town Mill House for many years, can continue.

Dave Tasker, Test Valley Borough Council’s head of community and leisure, said: “Age Concern Hampshire provides a valuable service to the area’s older population and this section of our community is expected to grow over the coming years.

“I am really pleased that this three-year grant continues to help them remain in the town.”