PLANS to roll out an over-50s volunteering initiative to cover a whole town have won councillors' approval.
Middlesbrough Borough Council will continue to fund the scheme in Beckfield ward, Brambles Farm and Thorntree as well as expanding it to cover the south and west of the town.
The decision means that more people over 50 will be encouraged to take part in a range of community activities, including helping out at schools, running toy libraries and learning computer skills.
As part of the scheme, east Middlesbrough's current volunteer coordinator will be kept in post for the rest of the year, costing £7,000. Next year, similar positions will be created in the south and west, costing £19,660 each up to 2003.
It is predicted that as the new schemes develop, volunteers will acquire the skills to generate their own funding.
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