Give the lonely the gift of company this Christmas

THIS festive season tens of thousands of people will get the Christmas present they most want, some company and somebody to talk to. The scourge of loneliness affecting so many people in our communities is one this newspaper has campaigned hard to tackle. So it is extremely welcome that ministers have listened to us, and to the many charities dealing with this issue, and come up with £11.5million to try to ensure that nobody is lonely over Christmas.

This money can be used to fund projects around the country to help pensioners through difficult times.

It is shocking to think that 1.2 million people are lonely, maybe unable to leave their home or caught in a situation where they cannot make contact with others. It affects people of all ages, but perhaps most of all the elderly. With families spread around and traditional social meeting points disappearing, the opportunities for those on their own to form new friendships is more limited than ever even in the social media age.

The lead, which ministers have provided here is one we should all follow. There are lonely people in all our communities, maybe a neighbour, maybe a family member. A telephone call or an invite for Christmas dinner can be transformative for somebody who spends their time with only themselves for company.

We should all make the effort not just over Christmas but beyond.