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Visit the charity's profileFOR MORE THAN HALF A MILLION OLDER PEOPLE IN THE UK, CHRISTMAS ISN'T SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO because it brings back too many memories of people who have passed away and of happier times. In addition, more than 230,000 older people will be on their own at least one day over the Christmas period (from Christmas Eve to New Year's Day) and they say they have no choice, its 'just how it is'.
It should therefore come as no surprise that more than 530,000 people aged 65 and over aren't looking forward to Christmas because for them its just another day.
AT AGE UK WESTMINSTER, WE WANT TO CHANGE THIS. As part of an annual project that has been running for over 20 years, we aim to make Christmas Day a special and enjoyable time for elderly residents, who may be suffering from loneliness and isolation.
Funds raised will enable us to provide a Christmas lunch to over 450 isolated older people in collaboration with St Paul's School. This intergenerational project will work with St. Pauls School and a team of volunteers to deliver a Christmas meal, gift and company on Christmas Day.
Age UK Westminster will also provide festive activities and community lunches to take place in the community during the month of December.
The project will benefit Westminster residents aged 60 plus, who live alone and are experiencing social isolation. The majority of our Christmas project recipients are housebound or have severe mobility problems, which prevent them from visiting their families and engaging with other local Christmas activities.
With this annual Christmas Project, we want to help more people look forward to and enjoy Christmas and feel part of the celebration, and diminish feelings of loneliness.
WE CAN'T DELIVER THESE INITIATIVES WITHOUT YOUR HELP. Every year, we need the generosity of local businesses and individuals to make this happen. Last year, we raised £25,300 and received support from a range of amazing volunteers who provided events, items for our hampers, helped to pack hampers and delivered them to local residents' doors. With the impressive donations and support, we truly changed lives and transformed a lonely time into a time of cheer.
*HERE'S WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT OUR PREVIOUS CHRISTMAS PROJECTS:
Molly was really very pleased with the Age UK hamper and mentioned her surprise at receiving it, and the pleasure of seeing some young people on the doorstep who were there to drop it off. She did not have a visit on Christmas Day from any family members but did speak to them on the phone."
With these phone calls and the hamper, I could not have asked for a nicer Christmas." (Christmas project recipient)
Ms X has just asked me to pass on her thanks for the generous Christmas hamper she received earlier today from your service; she is over the moon about it." (Hamper recipient)
Thanks for looking after us all, and organising such a wide programme of events." (Client)
We loved the workshop, it was really nice. We have just put his artwork on the door." (Wreath making workshop participant)
*HERE'S SOME FEEDBACK FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS ABOUT OUR CHRISTMAS PROJECT:
I had a brilliant time volunteering for Age UK Westminster, it was so great to have the chance to talk to people who were isolated at Christmas and to hopefully spread some cheer."
I would like to say how much I learned from these calls about older people's concerns and worries, and also had it reinforced to me the importance of the valuable work Age UK does and what it means to the recipients. I also felt that they were being at least as kind and thoughtful (and courteous) to me, an unknown caller, as I was to them."
All of the older people have been so happy to receive their hampers Its nice for these people to have someone knock at their door." -(Frankie, who helped with iTea parties and hamper deliveries in 2021).
If you'd like to fundraise on our behalf through doing something you're good at, such as baking or sport, then please do! You can link to our page and help us achieve our target. Otherwise, a small donation will also go a long way to helping us give people a happy and shared Christmas.
If you have any questions or want to support us, please email: carly.connolly@ageukwestminster.org.uk
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