Tea parties a great way to develop friendships
Founded in 1965, Contact the Elderly is the only national charity solely focused on tackling one of the greatest challenges facing society; loneliness and isolation among our rapidly ageing population, through face to face contact.
Supported by a volunteer network of thousands, the charity organise free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people in the homes of volunteers across England, Scotland and Wales.
With over 770 groups nationwide, the charity provides a regular, consistent and vital friendship link every month to over 6000 older people aged 75 and over, who live alone, without family or friends nearby.
At the same time, the charity also encourages over 10,000 volunteers to find enjoyment and fulfilment in achieving the charity’s aim and making new friends.
The Contact the Elderly model is based on a simple yet very effective concept: free monthly tea parties for older people, supported by a network of volunteers, within local communities.
The social gatherings bring individuals together helping them to develop fulfilling friendships and support networks and thereby reducing loneliness and isolation.
Contact the Elderly recruits volunteer drivers, hosts and group coordinators to help arrange the monthly tea parties for small groups of older people ( generally no more than eight guests per group).
Once a month, each older guest is collected from their home by a volunteer driver and is taken to a volunteer host’s home, where they join their group for tea, chat and companionship.
The group warmly welcomed by a different host on rota each month, but the drivers and older guests remain the same.
This ensures that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friendships and loneliness is replaced by companionship.