Ref. 73009-15 Cynthia Smith with her altered clothes thanks to DressabilityA DOOR-to-door dress-making and alterations service for the elderly has been launched in Swindon.

The initiative, for anybody over 60, has been developed by Dressability, the Pinehurst-based charity which adapts clothing for people who find clothes and dressing a problem.

Cynthia Smith, 86, of Toothill, was one of the first users of the service.

She said: "Being partially blind, this was a godsend for me. I can't manage things like zips, so they took the zips out and put Velcro in instead.

"My waistline has got a bit bigger so my blouses had got a rather tight and Dressability split them up the side, which made it more comfortable around my tummy.

"I've had several articles of clothing done, and I've been very pleased with what they have done."

Mrs Smith said that elderly and vulnerable people were right to be wary of those who came calling at the door but that this service was an excellent one and people could check with charity to make sure callers were genuine.

She said: "I met the people from Dressability before they came so I had no hesitation in letting them in."

Sian Barrie, manager of the project, said: "I'm very pleased about the new service.

"It's getting harder for older people to find somebody to do alterations and repairs.

"They might need the hem on a skirt taking up, for example, but then they have to find somebody to repair it and then get there and back, which can be a problem.

"We go out to see them, take the garments away and bring them back again.

"It's like having armchair access to a tailor. And because we are a charity the prices are very low."

Ms Barrie said that Dressability had been given around £5,000 from grant-making trusts one of which was the Lifespan Trust which had allowed them to offer this new service.

She said: "We are now hoping gradually to increase the number of people using this service."

Swindon's Dressability is one of only four similar charities left in the country.

Ms Barrie said: "Last year almost 300 local people benefited from our service."

Dressability is at Pinehurst People's Centre in Beech Avenue, and is open from Monday to Friday between 10am and 3 pm.

For more information telephone 01793 485374.

David Andrew