NATIONAL charity ‘Contact the Elderly’ is opening up in Melksham.
The charity is solely dedicated to tackling loneliness and social isolation among older people. They do this by organising monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people (aged 75+) who live alone and volunteers within their local community offering a regular and vital friendship link every month.
Each older person is collected from their home by a volunteer driver and taken to a volunteer host’s home for the afternoon. The group is warmly welcomed by a different host each month, but the drivers remain the same which means that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.
On their website the charity describe their sessions as, “A real lifeline of friendship for our older members who have little or no contact with any family or friends. They bring people of all ages together, develop fulfilling friendships and support networks, and give everyone involved something to look forward to each month.”
The Melksham branch urgently need volunteer hosts and drivers. To find out more or to volunteer contact Martin Elson on 01225 707534.
