A NEW organisation which aims to help people who have difficulty in getting out and about from their homes has been launched in Romsey.

RADISH - Romsey and District Information and Support at Home - is a unique partnership of statutory and voluntary organisations in the area, co-ordinated by Romsey and District Carers' Forum.

There is input and support from a wide range of local groups and organisations including Age Concern Romsey and District, Carers Together Hampshire, Hampshire Neighbourcare, Romsey CAB, Romsey Disability Forum, Romsey Good Neighbours, STVVTS, Romsey Intermediate Care (Rehab) Team, Talking Newspapers, Test Valley Borough Council, Test Valley Community Services and Testway Housing.

It is a free and confidential service for anyone who finds it difficult to get out and about and who is unsure about where to find help because of Age, disability, illness or their caring role.

RADISH will target older people, disabled people and carers of all ages who are isolated and hard to reach and there will be a mobile information service to help people who are housebound.

It hopes to help people to identify the right personal network of support to suit their needs and to access practical and financial support as and when they need it.

There will be support through befriending and advocacy, particularly when people have to deal with such things as assessments, reviews and case conferences.

There will also be co-operation with other organisations to provide simple one-off activities at times of stress or emergency, such as one-off gardening, odd jobs, shopping for essentials, pet walking, washing, collecting prescriptions or hospital visits to people who have no relatives.

Guests at the launch included Romsey MP Sandra Gidley, Test Valley Mayor Peter Boulton and Romsey Mayor Jill Gethin.

They heard from a RADISH volunteer who had done a small amount of work, which she found satisfying, which had made an enormous amount of difference to someone's ability to recover from a stay in hospital.

RADISH can be contacted for information and support on 0845 83 85 926, while there are also ASK RADISH leaflets at several locations in the area.

Anyone with a small amount time available to help a neighbour in need should ring the number and ask for an application form.