News
Councillors join tea party launch
"It made my month making theirs!"
Sonam takes on 5k challenge for Contact the Elderly
26/8/2010: Tea at the seaside
"The Medway Group of Contact the Elderly was re-launched last December, we have had a succesful year to date and want to build on this", says Sam who is coordinating the group.
"We have had great success this year with people volunteering to host tea parties, and we have had great support from local organisations, churches and care homes and would like to say thank you to all the people and organisations that have supported us. We have succedded in securing funding from Kent Community Foundation to enable us to arrange an outing to Herne Bay for the day."
"The day out in Herne Bay was a great success and all our elderly members had a fantastic time and having this opportunity truley made a difference and the parties always give our memebers something to look forward to."
"We are always looking for new volunteers to host and drive, if you are interested please contact Suzan Hyland who looks after the area."
26/8/2010: Tea parties on the canal
During the summer, the majority of Contact the Elderly groups near Inverness take the opportunity to have a wee cruise along the Caledonian Canal.
The Seagull Trust runs free trips up and down this famous waterway in a fully accessible converted barge. On board, looking after everyone is a skipper, two seafaring helpers and a lady who makes a lovely cup of tea.
Inverness 3 Group supplemented this with sandwiches & cakes and had a good old Contact the Elderly Tea Party whilst enjoying the wild flowers and passing yachts.
17/8/2010: Councillors join tea party launch
A lovely tea party was enjoyed at the launch of our new group at Pentrefelin in North Wales. We were joined by local Councillors Steve Churchman and John Edwards, and PCSO Paul Duggan.
Pentrefelin is a small rural village, where lack of local facilities compound the isolation experienced by older people.
12/8/2010: "It made my month making theirs!"
Ever wondered what happens at the Contact the Elderly tea parties and what our volunteers and members think about them?
We asked some of our West Midlands groups what they enjoy about the groups and why they became involved, and here is what they said:
"We exchange anecdotes, ideas and jokes – It’s a real enjoyable afternoon and as Laughter is the Best Medicine (no prescription needed!) we are a jolly crowd. I look forward to these get-togethers – may it continue to flourish as ‘Friendship is the sweetest flower in the garden of life.’
Deepica, member, Wolverhampton Group
"I got involved in Contact the Elderly three years ago as a driver as I wanted to do something worthwhile with my Sunday afternoons (and am particularly partial to homemade cakes!).
The ladies I’m currently driving to the tea are all good fun and really appreciate our efforts even though it’s only a few hours a month. It’s fascinating to hear all their stories about life in the early 1900s and during the Wars.
In December I drove into the City Centre after our tea & cakes to look at the Christmas lights which they hadn’t seen for years – that quick 15 minute diversion made their month and it made my month making theirs!"
Thomas Dickson, driver, Birmingham 1
"I was so touched and impressed by the work [of Contact the Elderly] that I didn’t hesitate to volunteer to host the occasional Tea.
I believe in the importance of the young and old sharing time together, learning from one another and having their lives enriched by contact with a generation so many years apart.
We have hosted two Teas now and the whole experience gives us great pleasure as a family. My children are aged 11, 9 and 8, and we work together as a team, planning and preparing the food we are going to offer…… and borrowing chairs from neighbours!
As a regular commitment, once or twice a year is hardly burdensome and the joy and fun we experience in opening our home to these lovely ladies far outweighs any last minute panics about not having a big enough teapot!"
Sam Thompson, host, Birmingham 2
“It’s fun. You get to meet new people. I like being able to help the old ladies.”
Jake (aged 11 years)
"I wouldn’t miss it for the world!"
Dorothy, member, Wolverhampton Group
If you want to join a local group as a volunteer or a member please fill in our online application form
12/8/2010: 10k runners reach £4,000
The nine ASICS British 10k runners have raised over 4,000.
"We know 20% of donations tends to come in after the event", says Keith Arscott, Fundraising Manager for Contact the Elderly, "but we are overwhelmed and very delighted by the fundraising efforts of the 9 runners and cannot thank them and their supporters enough."
One of the runners, Helen Greenhalgh, said she set herself the 10k challenge because her mother, Mavis Greenhalgh, has been a driver for the Newbury Contact the Elderly for 11 years, and 10 kilometers is twice as far as she has ever run before.
Helen says, "My time of 1 hour 16 minutes was much quicker than I thought I would manage and running with so many people was amazing."
The money will help us set up a new group in London, giving more older people a lifeline of friendship.
14/7/2010: Sonam takes on 5k challenge for Contact the Elderly
Sonam Sikka volunteered at the Contact the Elderly office last year, where she helped collate the information from the survey we sent out. We were grateful for her help then, and very pleased she has now signed up for the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge on 5th September 2010.
If you would like to show your support you can donate securely to Sonam via her Justgiving page. Support Sonam 5k Challenge
Thank you!
