The Live at Home community scheme for older people in the island is facing a shake-up - in the face of growing demand for its services.

Its four schemes, Northern, Eastern, Western and Douglas, are being retained but the administration is being centralised at the charity’s headquarters at the Mike Hailwood Centre on Glencrutchery Road.

The aim of the restructure is to allow each of the scheme managers to focus on providing services to its 700 members. All 15 full and part-time staff will be retained, as will the 400 or so volunteers.

Chairman David Gawne said: ’Nothing is changing. All schemes are continuing as they are and this will allow our people to focus on providing more support.’

Live at Home, which was a finalist in Isle of Man Newspaper’s Awards for Excellence last week, was registered as a Manx charity in its own right in at the end of June, having previously been run by a local branch of the UK-based charity MHA. It receives £30,000 a year funding from the government but has to raise the rest of the £250,000 it costs to provide its befriending initiatives and other services including regular social groups, lunch clubs, film clubs, and shopping clubs, all with transport provided.

The charity will be rebranded, but retain its name.

Chief executive Jo Dixon said: ’Like many third sector organisations, Live At Home has to address the financial pressures posed by the current economic climate - both in terms of increased competition for fundraising, and the impact of government cutbacks on public spending.’

’Our staff and volunteers are essential to the continued success of Live At Home.

’We acknowledge and understand the concerns expressed by some local committee members who are being requested to alter their current roles.

’We respect their invaluable contribution over many years, and are reassuring them the changes are in the best interests of Live At Home and our 700 members across the island.’