LOVED-UP couples are being asked to donate the cost of a bottle of wine or meal out to Age UK Solihull to help combat loneliness this Valentine’s Day.
Many older people will find themselves alone this Valentine’s Day, after losing a partner or a close friend to coronavirus over the past year.
So the charity is hoping to bring people together over the phone through its Linking People Together project.
Pre-pandemic, this would see a volunteer befriender visiting a lonely older person in their own homes once a week for a cuppa and a chat or a visit to one of Age UK Solihull’s clubs.
The service has now moved to telephone befriending service.
The befriending service makes a huge difference to people’s lives, especially in the current lockdown where loneliness is becoming a big issue.
The Lonely Hearts appeal will help fund the increase in demand for services, not only for befriending, but to provide lonely and isolated people with information and advice on issues they are now having to face alone.
Since the pandemic started the service has doubled in size, with clients now numbering 400 and volunteers supporting them at 250.
To donate visit virginmoneygiving.com/fund/lonelyhearts or if you prefer, send a cheque made payable to ‘Age UK Solihull’ to The Core, Solihull Central Library, Homer Road, Solihull B91 3RG.
For more about becoming a volunteer Telephone Befriender, visit https://www.ageuk.org.uk/solihull/get-involved/volunteer
