Contact the Elderly, a charity dedicated to tackling loneliness and isolation, is appealing for volunteers in Bath willing to welcome a small group into their home for a tea party.
The charity aims to relieve the acute loneliness of isolated older people, aged 75 and above, who live alone, by organising free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups within local communities.
Each older guest is taken to the volunteer host’s home by a volunteer driver, where they join a small group for tea, chat and companionship for a couple of hours.
The monthly gatherings exist as a vital lifeline of friendship for the charity’s older guests, however, the regular outings for the popular group in Bath are currently under threat due to a lack of volunteers able to host the tea parties.
Contact the Elderly’s, Bristol, Bath & Somerset Regional Development Officer, Clare Wilde, said: “The charity is committed to offering a lifeline of friendship to the oldest and loneliest people, but this lifeline in Bath is currently under threat due to a real shortage of volunteer hosts in the area.
“Being a host requires a commitment of just a couple of hours, once or twice a year, and anyone who has a downstairs toilet, easy access to their home and a decent sized teapot is eligible!
“Our volunteers genuinely get as much out of the experience as our older guests, so I’m calling for anyone who is interested in giving something back to their community to please get in touch with me as soon as possible.”
Bath residents interested in becoming a volunteer host for Contact the Elderly once or twice a year can contact Clare Wilde, Bristol, Bath & Somerset Regional Development Officer, on 0117 939 5747 or email [email protected].