TWO pensioners clubs have joined forces to offer more day trips, holidays and nights out to their members.

Age Concern and the Canvey Island Senior Citizens’ Association have run similar organisations just yards from each other, at the Paddocks in Long Road, Canvey, for years.

Now they have come together to form a loose partnership, which means members of each group will get the opportunity to sign up for events offered by either of the charities.

Dorothy Axford, chairwoman of Age Concern said: “We thought it would be a good idea to come together.

“We have always been separate entities and we still are, but for example if we are running a day trip sometimes we are left with a half empty coach.

“Now we can put it forward to invite their members to come along and vice-versa.”

Canvey Island Senior Citizens’ Association has its own building, Cisca House, on land behind the council run Paddocks House community hall, where Age Concern meet every Tuesday and Thursday.

For Cisca members one big advantage will be the chance to go on the holidays run by Age Concern.

Working with a group that hasits own premises will give Age Concern the chance to offer more evening events without having to pay for hall hire.

Tickets for events and outings will be offered to members of the group that is running the event first, before being offered to members of the other group.

Jean Reed, Cisca chairwoman, said: “It’s co-operation between the two of us to try and help each other out.”