AGE Concern in Bolton is a charity with around 4,000 members.

Gareth Evans, who became Chief Officer nine years ago, talks to Alan Calvert about the town's expanding elderly population and the measures being taken to plan for the future.

ONE of the first things Gareth Evans did when he took over at Age Concern Bolton was to reduce the qualifying age to 50.

It was a bold step which has caused many people to stop and think.

Surely nobody is old at 50 any more?

Well, that's true. It was a simple strategy to ensure that the organisation continues to have enough new blood to continue its vital work.

Mr Evans, who is 45, says he operates a principle similar to that of the Catholic church -- catching people young so that they stay for the rest of their lives.

An organisation which used to deal exclusively with older people in their 70s and 80s now has 400 energetic volunteers and provides a wide range of activities, help and financial services.

Many of the "younger" members are taking full advantage of the £500,000 Learning and Resources Centre which has operated in Cross Street, Farnworth for the last two years and is the only one of its kind in the country.

There are popular 12-week courses taking in computers (the number of "silver surfers" is growing rapidly) and other activities such as new languages, arts, crafts, keep fit and dancing.

Volunteers who lead the sessions include teachers, lecturers and business people.

"Society needs to look after its elderly people," Mr Evans said, pointing out that people are living longer than they did 100 years ago when life expectancy was in the mid-40s.

"There is going to be a lot of us about -- people have not woken up to that fact."

Gareth Evans was brought up in a village near Wrexham -- Rhosllannerchrugog -- and later achieved a first class degree at Bangor University. He worked as a housing officer in Dudley, and then after a spell with Wolverhampton Council as Assistant Housing Manager, he joined Bolton Council in 1986 as Head of Estate Management in the housing department.

He went to Manchester City Council as Assistant Director of Housing in 1990 and stayed there for three years before changing his career with his move to Age Concern in Bolton.

Mr Evans, who is single, lives in Stockport and continues his involvement with Trinity Methodist Church at Farnworth which began when he first worked in Bolton. He is an organist and choirmaster.

Age Concern Bolton was founded in 1947 by Ethel Ryley and Amy Wolfenden as the Bolton Old People's Welfare Committee.

"Bolton Council wanted to look at what the town could do to help poor, older people," Mr Evans said.

It started with a wooden hut dispensing tea and sandwiches in Moor Lane, where the bus station is now.

For the last 20 years the organisation, which now has 15 paid staff, has operated from the council-owned building in Ashburner Street, once the old weighbridge premises for the market.

The cafe on the ground floor -- a popular meeting spot -- was re-furbished at a cost of £60,000 recently.

Mr Evans is well aware that it costs just under £500,000 a year to keep the organisation going.

The council provides the premises and fund-raising is an important part of Mr Evans' duties. Selling insurance to older people provides much-needed revenue.

Mr Evans believes it is vital that councils and health authorities meet the challenge ahead as people live longer than in previous generations.

"In another 30 years' time -- for the first time ever -- there will be more older people than children of school age," he said.

Age Concern Bolton always needs volunteers. Anyone interested can telephone 01204 382411.