A SCHEME to help older people who suffer from depression by getting them involved in activities is hoping to get the go-ahead.

The Phoenix Project, which already has pilot schemes operating in Redcar and Middlesbrough, is being led by Age Concern on Teesside, in partnership with social services departments and the Tees and North-East Yorkshire Health Trust.

The project aims to promote social care support in Redcar and improve the social well being of older people.

In Redcar, it will be based at the Grosmont Day Centre and will establish a community cafe, a visiting and home support scheme, and a series of educational and promotional events. It will also employ four people.

Dave Punshon, from Age Concern, in Teesside, said: "It could be a wonderful project and aims to help older people with depression.

"They go into hospital, get assessed, get treatment and are discharged, then they get ill again and go into hospital again and it is cyclical.

"We want to create social activities so that people are having fun, so that they don't become miserable and the pilots are already a success, but we only have the funding for a year."

The project will cost in the region of £91,000 over a period of three years and the charity has applied to the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for the money.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Health Priority Group is due to discuss the proposal in the coming weeks.