While many of us will sit down with family and friends to enjoy a Christmas meal together this December, it won't be the case for everyone. With constant reminders of lost loved ones, and family gatherings of the past, December can be an especially lonely and isolating time for older people, even more so than throughout the rest of the year.

Right now, we’re focusing on recruiting as many community Christmas call companions as possible to offer much-needed conversations and connections to lonely older people over the phone during December. But we need vital funds to train volunteers and put them in touch with older people in need of support.

We’re taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge 2023. This means that if you donate online between 28 November and 5 December, your gift will be matched – making your generosity go twice as far!

Two incredible donors have pledged to match all donations up to a total of £40,000.

Every gift doubled will get us closer to our target, meaning even more older people who are feeling lonely will have someone to talk to over the festive period.

Look out for more details in next month’s e-news about how you can donate and give the gift of friendship to an older person experiencing loneliness.