How one local charity is tackling the loneliness epidemic

Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin have launched their 75th anniversary fundraising appeal which aims to raise £75,000 to help combat loneliness amongst older people.

According to Age UK, more than two million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they go over a month without speaking to anyone. Across Shropshire approximately 10,000 older people would describe themselves as ‘deeply lonely’ and this is a particularly acute in the most rural areas.

One way Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin is tackling social isolation is through its befriending services. The charity carefully matches one of their volunteers with an older person in the community. They telephone or visit them on a regular basis to provide companionship or sometimes taking them out on short trips or accompanying them to a local activity.

78-year-old, Marjorie Cank is one such beneficiary who’d found herself isolated and lonely after an illness left her unable to go out alone. She has used Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin’s befriending services for seven years and has a telephone buddy and a befriender who visits them once a week.

“Loneliness was the reason I contacted Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin,” said Marjorie. “As a former carer I was used to always being around people but after a serious illness left me housebound I felt very alone.”

Continued Marjorie: “When the befriender visits, we have a cup of tea and a natter, we put the world to rights and sometimes we go for a walk. It’s my favourite hour of the week; I always look forward to the visits and phone calls.”

A donation of £7.50 could pay for one hour of a befriending visit for someone like Marjorie. For her and many others, this simple human connection means everything, but it’s only possible if Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin continue to receive financial support from local people or businesses.

To support Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin you can make a one-off or regular donation via their JustGiving page https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/ageukstw75 If you would prefer to donate by cheque, it should be made payable to Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin and posted or hand-delivered to the charity’s office at Bellstone, Shrewsbury.

For more information about how to get involved in 75th anniversary or to get involved in a fundraising challenge, please email fundraising@ageukstw.org.uk or call 01743 233 123.