New Social Group To Combat Loneliness For Older People

Published on: 22 Dec, 2017
Updated on: 30 Dec, 2017

A new social group aimed at combating loneliness in older people is opening in January.

Age UK Surrey is launching Café Culture at Bills Restaurant in Angel Gate (within the Angel Hotel) on Tuesday, January 9. It will run from 3pm to 5pm on a weekly basis.

It follows on from the success at two similar groups in Cranleigh and Staines. Research shows that 1.2 million older people in England are chronically lonely and 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with friends or family for an entire month.

Cranleigh’s Café Culture group.

Anyone aged 50 and over are welcome to attend, either on their own or with others. Age UK Surrey staff and volunteers will be on hand to make introductions and get involved in the chatter. No booking will be required.

Terry, a member who attends the Café Culture group in Cranleigh said: “When you retire you lose about two thirds of your friends and acquaintances. I don’t have any family and I have lost some of my friends on top of this, so it gets a bit lonely. It’s nice to have somewhere to go where you can meet for a coffee and have a chat with new people and make new friends.”

For more details call 01483 503414.

Age UK Surrey is always looking for volunteers. If you would like to volunteer for its Making Connections service, including Café Culture, get in touch with either Lesley Power on 01483 4466646 or Jo Cooling on 01483 446662. Alternatively, visit the website at www.ageuk.org.uk/surrey.