A Stamford church is helping people who feel alone this festive season
Research from Age UK says over a million older people in the country could be on their own this Christmas time
A church in Stamford is hoping to bring some festive cheer to people who might be feeling lonely this Christmas.
Research from Age UK suggests more than a million older people across the UK will spend the festive season on their own.
Age UK said its volunteers made more than 70,000 minutes' worth of calls to people during Christmas week last year.
Most of the people we work with dread Christmas
St George’s church in Stamford hosts 'Friday Connect' which is a weekly community cafe.
It aims to provide a safe place for everyone, including the isolated and vulnerable in Stamford.
They want people to find belonging and community.
Over the Christmas period they are continuing the cafe.
Our aim is to give these people hope
Louise from the church says it's one of the most important times to support people:
"Most of the people we work with dread Christmas."
"It's not that joyful time of year. They're not looking forward to spending Christmas with family. They don't have the money to splash out on gifts. They dread it."
"Christmas is painted as being a time when you have to be happy and you will have lots of extended family around you. And for many people we work with, that is not the case. They live alone. They are alone on Christmas day."
"Our aim is to give these people hope."
"So it's really important to us that we continue, that. We always continue. So our cafe doesn't stop. We don't stop for the holidays, but we continue that support."
During the holidays, St George's Church will also continue their safe place for people to drop in and find support with issues including housing, mental health, poverty and debt.