A community project to combat loneliness for elderly veterans is celebrating its continued success after receiving a large grant to help it launch.

Community Focus, based in Friern Barnet, was given £23,160 by the Royal British Legion to start up Combat Loneliness – a run of twice-weekly sessions for elderly residents.

It is aimed at veterans over 60, tackling loneliness and isolation by providing free musical entertainment and activities like bingo to encourage socialising.

The grant is being used to bring in community tutors to run the sessions twice a week for the benefit of those living in Barnet and surrounding areas.

Combat Loneliness aims to help participants find activities and social opportunities in their areas and so they can build up confidence to improve their quality of life within local communities.

It is also looking to recruit volunteers with a forces background to help in cases of medical discharge or to support veterans who are leaving the forces after their period of service.

Community Focus director Tim Balogun said: “The Legion grant will enable us to address the issue of loneliness amongst our older veterans’ community.

“Funding allowing us to work directly with veterans will provide a valuable opportunity for people to make positive changes in 2017 and for years to come.

“The service will operate in Barnet and help to bring our communities closer together.”

The funding was provided through the Legion’s external grants programme which awards grants to organisations which share its aim of safeguarding the welfare of the armed forces community.

More details of how to volunteer or to nominate someone who may benefit from the Community Focus service can be found by calling 0203 743 2326.