Local people aged 50-plus will be able to get out and about and make new friends thanks to a £1m new befriending service.

The West Wales Befriending Links service is providing new opportunities for people aged 50 and over to make new friendships within their local communities through new befriending groups with the help of the Big Lottery Fund.

The Crafty Bi-Centenary group has been formed by Age Concern Pembrokeshire's West Wales Befriending Links service to support the Bi-Centenary celebrations due to be held in Pembroke Dock in 2014. The group who had their first meeting last month are planning on making a crafty collage depicting scenes of life in Pembroke Dock over the last 200 years. This will be achieved through each member producing a square of fabric through their own sewing, crochet, knitting, canvas, felt and any other crafty ideas/techniques.

One new group member, Mrs. Bennett, said: "Since my two children have grown up and now have their own lives, I find I'm spending more and more time on my own. I love being with people and miss the company of others, but as time goes on I've been losing my confidence. Being introduced to the Crafty group in Pembroke Dock through West Wales Befriending Links is fantastic and has been so much fun, and it means I can share my sewing skills with others too."

Local Befriending Links co-ordinator Helen Bussell said: "Age Concern Pembrokeshire regularly gets calls from older people who want to meet like-minded people in their community. This service will create lots of new activity groups across the county as well as work to highlight the need of existing groups, and will help to overcome the feeling of loneliness and isolation."

Some 40 befriending groups will be set up over the next five years with the help of the Big Lottery Fund. The service, covering Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire, aims to combat loneliness by getting people together in groups.

Anyone wishing to become part of the Crafty Bi-Centenary group can contact Helen at Age Concern Pembrokeshire on 01437 769972.