'It was like getting out of jail after a two-year sentence'

Published on Friday 26 December 2008 09:10

FOR two years she had seen nothing but the walls of her flat and a limited view from her window.

But thanks to a befriending scheme launched by a city charity, 76-year-old Anne Mason has had her spirits revitalised after an evening out in the Capital.

"It was like getting out of prison after a two-year sentence," she said.

"It was a marvellous time. I can't get out at all now, and it's amazing how these people can just turn up from nowhere and make such a difference."

Mrs Mason's only family is her elder sister Jean Budge, 77, who has her own health issues and is unable to help her out the house, and she lost her husband in a car accident 20 years ago.

Wheelchair-bound, she has also suffered a series of health issues, including the experience of three strokes, epilepsy and heart problems.

She was been cooped up in her Norton Park sheltered housing flat in Leith for so long that she can barely remember the details of her last trip outside.

However, city-based ECAS realised her plight and, as part of a pilot scheme to get more people out on to the streets and leading as active lives as possible, Mrs Mason was earmarked for a journey.

Last week three volunteers from the organisation took her round the German Market on Princes Street and into several high street shops.

"Everyone just seemed so helpful," added the former caterer.

"In the market and in Marks & Spencer, everyone I met was extremely nice. It was very cold, though, I hadn't been that cold in some time.

"I had forgotten what it was like outside and I couldn't believe how busy Edinburgh was. I've never seen so many people.

"This has made a real difference to me as well. It used to be I couldn't sleep at night because I had a horrible fear come over me, but that's gone now, all because of this trip out."

Since becoming completely housebound she has had three visits a day from home helps to help her clean, cook and collect her shopping.

She added: "It's not for them to take me out. There are so many rules and regulations it means they can't."

It is hoped that, if successful, there will be enough volunteers that can be recruited to extend the scheme and council officials are watching the progress closely to see the results. ECAS chief executive David Griffiths said the scheme would be of benefit to numerous elderly people.

"It presents a great opportunity for individuals to visit shops that are normally inaccessible to them due to mobility issues and to offer some companionship," he said.

"Online shopping presents many advantages to many people but it is not necessarily the ultimate answer for those who still want to enjoy the social aspect of visiting their local stores – ones which they may have used but now for one reason or another they simply can't get to."