MEMBERS of Age Concern Suffolk are today gearing up for a special week of events - and celebrating the award of a £5,000 lottery grant.Next week is Age Concern Week and a number of events are planned including a walk at Alton Water, a tombola and funday on the Cornhill in Ipswich, and a country and western dance.

MEMBERS of Age Concern Suffolk are today gearing up for a special week of events - and celebrating the award of a £5,000 lottery grant.

Next week is Age Concern Week and a number of events are planned including a walk at Alton Water, a tombola and funday on the Cornhill in Ipswich, and a country and western dance.

Meanwhile staff at the charity are now able to prepare a year-long series of special meetings and drama sessions to help people suffering from dementia and memory loss after the grant award.

That will be used to fund a series of sessions around the county as a follow-up to a previous series that was highly successful.

Maggie James from Age Concern said: “Our first sessions were very good and we had been hoping to continue them. We have now heard the money has been made available.”

The sessions will be led by Eve Green, and after everything is planned it is hoped they will start in late November or early December and continue throughout next year.

The money has been granted by Awards for All, supported by the National Lottery and the funds which organise its charitable donations.

Age Concern Week starts early with a quiz tomorrow night followed by afternoon tea at Capel St Mary on Saturday and a walk at Alton Water on Sunday.

The week is officially launched on the Cornhill on Monday with a special appearance by Age Concern Suffolk president Helen McDermott.

Next Tuesday sees the launch of a volunteering project at Endeavour House, and the following Saturday the week ends with a country and western dance at Tattingstone Village Hall.

For full details of Age Concern Week events visit www.ageconcernsuffolk.org.uk