With an ageing population, the question of how we care for the elderly is one of the most challenging issues facing society.

Some elderly people are lucky enough to have regular family contact or support from neighbours, but far too many face desperate loneliness and anxiety due to a basic lack of human contact.

That is why an initiative launched in Darlington today is of huge importance. The Good Friends project, launched by Darlington Partnership, is bringing organisations together to create a network of support for the elderly and vulnerable members of the local community.

Over the past year, Darlington Partnership has made important inroads into the youth unemployment crisis through its Foundation For Jobs, which is creating apprenticeships, internships and developing meaningful links between employers and young people.

The Northern Echo is proud to have been at the heart of the Foundation For Jobs and we are just as committed to supporting Good Friends which lies at the opposite end of the age spectrum.

The aim in the first year is to recruit a small army of 1,000 volunteers to carry out everyday tasks for the elderly: help with the shopping, walking the dog, putting the bins out, or simply phoning for a chat and to check that all's well.

It is a simple idea but it can also be extremely powerful if enough support can be harnessed.

What better aspiration can there be for a town to promote care for the elderly from the grass roots upwards? Let us hope it is a success and becomes a model for the country to follow.