‘You have no idea how much it means to me. I’m beginning to feel human again…. it’s easily the best organisation I know of for lonely people such as myself’. Peggy, aged 84 years.

Contact the Elderly is a national charity that has been bringing lonely older people together for ‘cakes and company’ for 45 years now. Volunteers arrange monthly Sunday afternoon Tea parties; a lifeline of friendship for lonely people over 75.  Volunteers with cars each collect two or three elderly members every month and the group of 8 to 10 members plus 3-5 volunteer drivers meet for Afternoon Tea in the house of a volunteer host.  The group visits a different home each month and over the months friendships develop. Group members are usually well into their 80s and 90s, live alone without family nearby and are no longer able to get out without assistance.  For some elderly members this monthly outing with friends is the only opportunity that they have for companionship.

Volunteer roles:

Volunteer drivers:
Do you like to chat, have a laugh and eat cake? Just once a month, on a Sunday afternoon, volunteer drivers each use their own car to collect one or two local elderly group members, then travel together to a volunteer host’s home, join in (eat cake!), then bring their passengers safely home at the end of the afternoon. 

Volunteer hosts:
Do you like to prepare tasty food and entertain friends in your own home? Just once or twice a year volunteer hosts welcome a group of 8-10 elderly people and 3-5 drivers into their home for Sunday Afternoon Tea.  Hosts need a downstairs toilet, not too many steps and a big teapot!  
 
Group Co-ordinator:
Would you like to see otherwise lonely and isolated older people enjoying a cracking afternoon out as a result of your efforts?  Are you a good communicator and an efficient organiser? We need your skills to bring isolated older people and their volunteer drivers together, so that yourself and the group can enjoy a friendly and informal sociable afternoon at the home of a different host every month.  Expenses paid.

Case studies are available at http://www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk/media.php

An interview with older person and ‘referrer’ can be viewed at http://www.wateringcanmedia.com/clients/contacttheelderly

The charity’s report, ‘Reaching Isolated Older People’, evaluating alternative methods of service delivery and support to isolated and lonely older people is available from Contact the Elderly from March 3, 2008.