Charity searches for lonely people

THE Lymm branch of national charity Contact the Elderly is searching for local people who would like to attend their monthly afternoon tea parties designed to help tackle the problem of loneliness.
It is estimated that in England alone, there are 800,000 people who are chronically lonely – and Contact the Elderly is the only national charity dedicated solely to tackling loneliness and social isolation among older people.
They do this through their tea parties for people aged 75 or more who live alone.
Each older person is picked up from their home by a volunteer driver and taken to the home of a volunteer host for the afternoon, where they meet other members of the group.
They are welcomed warmly by a different host each month, but regular
attendance means that over the months and years, acquaintances become friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.
Colin Melrose, chairman of the Lymm branch, said: “Our tea parties are a real lifeline of friendship for our older members, who have little
regular contact with family or friends. They bring together people of all ages, develop fulfilling friendships, and give everyone involved something to look forward to each month.
“We would be pleased to hear from any elderly Lymm resident who would like to attend one of our monthly tea parties, to find out if they would like to become a regular participant. The invitation applies mainly to those who live alone but also to couples who have problems of restricted mobility.”
Anyone interested, or who knows of somebody who may be, should contact Mr Melrose on 01925 756742.