Old people's charity seeks social smokers

A PROJECT which links lonely pensioners with a volunteer companion fears some of its clients are becoming more isolated - because they smoke.

The befriending project is working well for the majority of people who sign up, but now the charity behind it needs to find volunteers who either smoke, or don't mind someone else in their company doing it.

ECAS said a handful of those involved, who have smoked for most of their lives, are finding it hard to get a befriender because most of them refuse to be around cigarettes.

Project manager Rosiaina Browning said: "These days many volunteers are unwilling to be in a smoking environment.

"If someone is depressed the last thing they want to hear is that we can't find them a befriender because they smoke."

Tobacco tolerant volunteers should contact the charity on 0131 475 2344 or email [email protected]