New Group for Older People in Sutton.

3.47.42pm GMT Tue 26th Jan 2010

Older people in Sutton will have something to look forward to in March 2010 as 'Contact the Elderly', supported by Carshalton and Wallington MP Tom Brake, plan to launch a new monthly social get-together for a small group of socially isolated people over the age of 75.

National charity 'Contact the Elderly' is starting a group in Sutton for local residents over 75. Once a month, volunteers with cars will pick up a group of 8-10 older people and take them to the home of a volunteer host where they will all spend an afternoon together. 1-2 more volunteers with cars and 3-4 volunteers who can host a tea party once or twice a year, is all that is needed to start this new group.

"The older people we help are very lonely", says Cliff Rich, South London Development Officer for 'Contact the Elderly', "Like Constance who is 89 and a member of one of our groups. She lives alone in her own house. It is the same house she was born and brought up in together with her 6 siblings, and where she lived with her husband, who died 30 years ago."

"Her eyesight has deteriorated and she can only see very little, but not enough to go out on her own. So instead she sits at home most days in her comfortable chair and listens to audio books, but she has no one to talk to about the book she has just finished, and no one to share her thoughts with. However with 'Contact the Elderly' she now has friends who live near her who call her and whom she meets up with on a regular basis."

Tom said of the new group, 'I am pleased to be able to help 'Contact the Elderly' set up such a great project. The social get-togethers the groups organise are so valuable for socially isolated older people and offer them a chance to engage with their local community. The group relies on the goodwill of volunteers to drive the guests to the tea parties or host a party in their own home. Volunteers only have to commit to helping out one Sunday a month or by hosting a tea party once or twice a year.'

Cliff continues: 'We have many older people in Sutton who are looking forward to the new group starting, and we are delighted that Tom Brake MP is supporting us and will attend the first tea party on March 21st. Thousands of older people over 75 go for weeks without seeing any family or friends - in Sutton there are over 6,800 people over 75 living on their own, and around 20% of these see their family and friends less than once a week - so it is wonderful we are able to offer some of those who are particularly lonely something to look forward to.'

If you would like more information about joining the new local group in Sutton, please contact Cliff Rich on 020 8675 3030 or see our website for more information www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk