Age UK plans to launch a ‘Homeshare’ project in the city after receiving an £10,000 grant from Oxford City Council .

Participants in the scheme work a certain amount of hours a week for their elderly landlords in exchange for low rent payments. Council board member for housing Scott Seamons said: “The idea is that it gives older people someone to come and live with them to help them, whether that’s to prevent isolation or loneliness or because they need help.”

He said the council had been “more than happy” to offer £5,000 for the first half of the year, and a further £5,000 for the second to support the scheme.

Age UK will iron out the finer details and arrangements would be worked out on a case-by-case basis.