Charity appeals for volunteers to combat loneliness among Grantham’s older people

A national charity is urgently appealing for volunteers to help combat loneliness in Grantham.

Re-engage, formerly Contact the Elderly, tackles loneliness and social isolation amongst over-75s through organised social gatherings and monthly afternoon tea parties.

Each Sunday every month, older guests are collected from their homes by volunteer drivers and taken to a local tea party held at a volunteer host’s home, where friendship and conversation takes place over cups of tea and cake.

As many older guests in later life have found themselves house-bound or with decreasing support networks due to ill-health, mobility or lack of transport, volunteers play a crucial role in making sure older generations are able to access opportunities to form new friendships and are protected against the rising tide of social isolation.

The Re-engage Grantham group are particularly looking for a new Group Coordinator to help schedule tea parties throughout the year. Coordinators are vital in ensuring the smooth running of events and ensuring that guests have a safe place to go to each month.

Head of Service Tracy Parr said: “At Re-engage, we believe you’re never too old to make friends. Before coming along to this group, our guests never got much chance to get out of the house and could go days without seeing a soul. Now, six lovely older people get a chance to build real friendships and make memories again. A few months ago, they enjoyed a great tea party at Grantham Fire Station, where they got to talk to staff and look at the fire engines. Many of them said it was the most fun they’d had in decades!

“Without volunteers, our older guests just wouldn’t be able to have regular social contact with other people. So even if you can only spare a few hours a month, we’d love to hear from you.”

For more information on how you can become a volunteer, contact Tracy Parr at tracy.parr@reengage.org.uk or on 07914 152679.