A GROUP which provides social events for residents of The Croft, the Camphill Village Trust centre at Malton, is marking its 25th anniversary with an appeal for more volunteers.

The eight-strong committee which forms The Friends of The Croft runs entertainment evenings and outings for the 34 residents.

Twice a month, the group holds evening events at the Friends Meeting House in Malton, where they encourage the Croft residents to play games and take part in various activities.

One of the leaders, Margaret Makins, a committee member for 20 years, said: "We are a befriending service to the Croft community, providing them with activities, and people come along and give talks and demonstrations at our meetings.

"But we would like to have more supporters on the friends - people who feel they can spare a few hours a month to help the community."

Joseph, a Camphill resident for 25 years, who works in the bakery and gardens at the Croft, said: "It's a great night out - we thoroughly enjoy the games we play and meeting everyone."

The chairman of the friends, the Rev John Manchester, said: "The aim of the group is to be a friend to the villages and the community at the Croft."

He said the friends helped them to read and write and bought them presents at Christmas because a number of the residents have no families.

"We are here to improve their quality of life because the residents of the Croft have integrated well into the life of Malton over the years because it is a caring community."

Updated: 14:26 Wednesday, June 04, 2003