We believe that no one should spend Christmas Day alone.

Many of us experienced loneliness during the COVID-19 pandemic, some of us for the very first time. Unfortunately, for many older people, their experience of isolation did not end when restrictions were lifted. For the hundreds of older people in Lambeth who live alone, loneliness is an ongoing issue.

During the Christmas period, feelings of loneliness are often heightened. At a time when our TV screens and social media feeds are full of people spending time with friends and family, those who are more isolated desperately need the support of their community. And Age UK Lambeth intend to provide just that.

So what will Age UK Lambeth do this Christmas to help tackle loneliness?

We are bringing together a huge team of volunteers to make an extra Christmas dinner and drop it round to an older person in Lambeth who is spending Christmas Day alone. With the help of your kind and generous donations, each person will also receive hand-picked gifts to make them smile, a cracker to pull with the volunteer who visits them, and a handwritten Christmas card.

In 2020, we delivered 260 meals and gifts, and this year we intend to do even more. By donating to our campaign, you will put a smile on someone's face this Christmas and spread some much needed Christmas cheer.

Your donation will help someone like Leonard, 64, who was spending Christmas Day 2020 on his own, until one of our wonderful volunteers delivered a goody bag and a roast dinner with all the trimmings to his door. Leonard said that this "made one of the best Christmas Days I've ever had."

Lindsay, 73, was also spending Christmas Day alone as her family lived in France and she had recently lost her partner. Lindsay said "it was such a relief to be looked after on Christmas Day like last year, particularly as I'd just come out of hospital and I live alone...it was a really great surprise to have something done for me. It made a massive difference and they were so cheery when they came to the door."

Our MYsocial service will also be running hundreds of social events across the festive period. Funding as many events as we can will give older people in Lambeth opportunities every single day in December to socialise, stay active, and have fun.

Why YOUR help is so important

This year, your support is more vital than ever due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020-21, demand for our services increased by 233%. We had contact with over 70,000 clients, increasing from 21,000 the year before. To meet the overwhelming need we were faced with, we spent an additional £50,000. We did this because not helping someone who needed us was never an option for the Age UK Lambeth team.

And so we now need the help of our community to make sure we can continue to be a vital support system for those in need.

By donating to our Christmas Campaign, you will help hundreds of older people in Lambeth feel less alone this Christmas. Without our visit, many of these people would not see a single person or receive a single gift on Christmas Day.

Here's an example of the positive impact your generosity could have:

£12 could fund a goody bag full of treats for someone who is spending Christmas Day alone.

£20 could fund a set of plates which we will give out to our volunteers so they can easily deliver a delicious Christmas meal on a proper plate, without worrying about getting it back.

£50 could fund a MYsocial instructor who could run classes like yoga, zumba or a Christmas choir, helping older people in Lambeth to stay social, active and independent.

£100 could fund MYsocial Christmas events, such as a trip to the Christmas markets.

£120 could fund 10 goody bags. Your donation could provide ten people with the only gift they may receive this Christmas.

Please give what you can and, together, we will help tackle loneliness in Lambeth this Christmas.