SWINDON's Third Age Challenge, based in Rodbourne, celebrated its 10th birthday yesterday.

Through the past decade, the Challenge has provided a free service to more than 800 older adults by offering them help with job searches and career changes.

Said Julia Falaki, projects manager: "Although employers are now beginning to realise the advantages of employing an age diverse workforce and often try to actively recruit the older worker recent research by us has shown that older people still only make up a small percentage of the total workforce.

"As the problems with pension funds, the proposed raising of the retirement age, the legislation on age discrimination and the ageing population continues to affect us all.

"We are well placed to be able to provide information and advice to older people on how to find or change employment."

For further information, call (01793) 533370.