A Spanish delegation has come to NI to explore volunteering opportunities for older people as part of an exchange programme between Belfast and Madrid.

Six older people from each city will spend between three and eight weeks doing voluntary work in the two cities.

Successful candidates will get flights and accommodation paid for them, as well as some spending money.

Belfast City Council's Adele Keys said: "The only catch is it is not a holiday; it is a working trip."

She said the scheme aimed to foster a change in culture.

"We want to learn why they have a lot more civic pride and more volunteering in their city," she said.

"We want to send people from different areas of Belfast so they can bring some of that home."

The minimum age for participating in the European Union-funded scheme is 50.

Ms Keys said priority would be given to "people who haven't had the opportunity to travel in Europe before, and people who are already working as volunteers".