Contact the Elderly offers a lifeline of friendship to thousands of people aged 75 and over who live alone, need a bit of help getting out and about, and don’t have the support of family and friends nearby.  To apply to become a guest at one of our groups fill in this application form.

How it works

One Sunday afternoon a month, our volunteer drivers enjoy taking their older guests to a volunteer host’s home where they join a small group for tea, talk and companionship.

The group is warmly welcomed by a different host each month, but the drivers remain the same and the groups are kept small so that everyone can join in easily and get to know each other properly.

It’s a simple idea, but one that can make a big difference.  Our friendship groups represent the perfect opportunity to get out of the house, make new friends within the local community, and generally brighten up a weekend.
Guests are not expected to host any of the tea parties and the service is free.

“Contact means a lot to me. There is always something to look forward to – friends to meet, ideas to be exchanged. Time goes all too quickly but when we say goodbye we all feel that the loneliness has been lifted, that we have plenty of friends and kind people that really care and that we all have another get-together to look forward to.”
From an elderly guest

Is there a group near me?

We have hundreds of groups throughout England, Scotland and Wales. On the Location page you can find out if we have a group near you.

How do I join?

If you are interested in joining a group then please fill in the application form or, if you would like to talk to someone about joining a group, please call 0800 716 543 or look at the Contact page for details of your regional representative.

Click here to download a printable application form and
our leaflet with more information for older people