Helen fights loneliness epidemic over lunch
AS Trixie Franklin in the hit BBC drama Call The Midwife, she won an army of millions of fans.
But now Helen George is winning over a new audience.
The popular actress yesterday told how becoming a mother two months ago has made her want to help tackle loneliness among the elderly.
Ms George today relaunches a nationwide bid to help alleviate the UK’s loneliness epidemic among older people something she says she holds close to her heart.
The actress, 33, is now fronting the Spare Chair Sunday campaign – encouraging households to offer a seat at their lunch or dinner table to elderly people who live alone.
She said: “The serious issue of loneliness amongst older people is one that I feel very passionately about.
“Becoming a new mum has made me look at what family traditions I want to continue for my very own family. One of them is bringing the whole family together for quality time and there is no better way do this than at the dinner table.”
But she was shocked to learn that a quarter of over 70s who skip meals do so to avoid eating on their own.
“Unfortunately there are many older generations who no longer get this opportunity to share a meal with family or friends and are often eating alone.
Parties
“That’s why I’m really looking forward to being part of Spare Chair Sunday and offering a spare chair at my Sunday roast dinner table to an older person in my local community who doesn’t have their own family to share it with.”
Last month Ms George shared an image of her new baby daughter Wren Ivy who was born prematurely.
Spare Chair Sunday first launched in 2015 as a partnership between national charity Contact the Elderly and Bisto.
Expanding on the charity’s model of free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for small groups of older people aged over 75 who live alone, Spare Chair Sunday offered the public the chance to get involved. The response to the campaign was hugely successful and it is now being relaunched.
For more information visit bistotogetherproject.com