THE founder of a social group for Radcliffe’s elderly residents has been praised as the town’s “hidden hero”.

Cherella Young, who set up the Friendly Faces group last year, was recently presented with the Asda Hidden Hero award by Dot Murphy, the community champion for the supermarket chain’s Pilkington Way store.

Dot, who also volunteers with the group, presented the award at the Friendly Faces Christmas party.

She said: “I first met Cherella when she came into the store earlier this year and asked for permission to put up some posters promoting Friendly Faces.

“She explained she was trying to get the message out to our senior customers that she was holding events for them every Wednesday.

“The more I heard about what she was doing, the more I liked it.

“She invited me up there and I’ve volunteered with the Wednesday group several times.

“Now she just needs a bit more publicity and recognition to help Friendly Faces kick on.”

The-33-year-old set up the Friendly Faces group last September to help older people in the town.

She said she had also been looking to collect food and toiletries to provide packages for all of her regular members.

Cherella, a mum-of-four, said: “I was speaking on the phone to lots of elderly people who were really lonely.

“A lot of them didn’t want me to put the phone down because they just wanted to chat to someone.”

The Radcliffe group now has 35 members who enjoy a variety of activities, and Cherella has gone on to set up similar groups in Bury and Tottington.

An Asda Foundation grant of £500 enabled them to put on the party for members at Radcliffe Borough Football Club.

Cherella added that the group was a lifeline to its members – many of whom could not do without it.

She said: “Friendly Faces is a lifeline for these elderly people because they get out every Wednesday to socialise and have made a great circle of new friends as a result.

“Most of the group live on their own, although not all of them.

“One married couple in their nineties are both members because they don’t get to see many other people.

“Dot has been brilliant with her help with the group and particularly the money for the party – we wouldn’t have been able to hold the Christmas party without the Asda grant.”

The Friendly Faces group meets every Wednesday at Radcliffe Borough Football Club from 1pm to 3pm.

Everyone is invited to attend.