Glasgow rock band The Black Triangles entertained our Glasgow North East group on Sunday 19th February 2012. Traditionally used to playing rock songs, the band treated the older guests to a medley of other songs, including Delilah, by Tom Jones, Whisky in the Jar, a traditional Irish song, Johnny Cash hits, and of course, some of the band’s own songs!

The guests thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment and the band members joined them for tea, sandwiches and cakes. The guests said it was the best tea party yet, and look forward to inviting the band another time. Meanwhile, Eve, one of the drivers is learning to play guitar, and has devised a small song book for the group to use at their outings occasionally. The group also have a hosting couple who play the accordion and piano – Glasgow’s Got Talent!

Thanks to the attentive staff and delicious scones, the guests and volunteers of our Westminster 23 and Camden 92 groups enjoyed a delightful tea at the Haymarket Hotel on Sunday afternoon.

This was the fourth tea party kindly hosted by Firmdale Hotels, which many of our London groups have had the pleasure of attending. As you can see, everyone was looking very glamourous on Sunday, fitting in perfectly with the stylish interior of the boutique hotel.

For new guest John, 75, it was a very special way to be introduced to the Camden 92 group and a thoroughly enjoyable first tea party.

Sybil, also from the Camden 92 group says “We had a lovely afternoon at this really beautiful hotel. They gave us a fabulous tea and we were made so very welcome by Fabian and John and all the other Haymarket staff. It was a really pleasant and memorable treat – in luxurious surroundings with equally impressive hospitality!”

The lucky guests and volunteers in the Kensington 30 group were treated to a little extra at their tea party recently, where they each received a relaxing hand massage. I’m sure this was greatly appreciated in between all the driving and tea drinking!

‘Give More’ – a new national campaign aimed to encourage people in the UK to give more time, energy or money to charity in 2012- had it’s preview launch in London this morning.

The event, which was designed to bring individuals, businesses and charities on board in time for the official national launch in April, included representatives such as Martyn Lewis, broadcaster and Chair of NCVO; Esther Rantzen, founder of ChildLine, and Patricia Hewitt, Non-Executive Director of BT.

Contact the Elderly’s own star of the show, volunteer Alice Hutcheson, was among those who made the pledge today to give more in 2012, by hosting tea parties for a Contact the Elderly group in South London.

Alice, who features in a video on the campaign’s website, alongside celebrities such as Ruby Wax, Amanda Healing and Kate Garraway, was joined by Director Keith Arscott and Communications Assistant Isabel Inman at the launch which saw the BT tower illuminated with the ‘Give More’ slogan.

Click here to view the video featuring Alice, and other individuals pledging to Give More in 2012.

If you would like to give more time in 2012 by becoming a volunteer for Contact the Elderly please fill in our online application form.

Contact the Elderly is a UK wide charity working to alleviate loneliness and isolation in people over the age of 75 through small, local and volunteer-led friendship groups. We are seeking a:

Regional Development Officer, South West London

4 days per week, home-based    c£20,000 pa (£25,000 fte) This post is initially for 12 months and funding will be sought to sustain it.

The role is to maintain and support existing friendship groups and to develop sustainable new groups in 8 or 9 boroughs in South West London by recruiting, motivating and supporting volunteers and heightening awareness of the service we offer to socially isolated elderly people.

You will need to be self motivated and able to work under pressure, have excellent interpersonal and communication skills and an understanding of and empathy with the issues affecting older people who are isolated, and lonely. Experience of recruiting and managing volunteers is essential.

For an application pack:
Please Email info@contact-the-elderly.org.uk or write to The Director, Contact the Elderly 15 Henrietta St. London WC2E 8QG. Closing date: 23rd February. CVs will not be accepted. Interviews: 1st March.

Contact the Elderly guest, Nancy, is performing in a pantomime in March. Nancy, who is well-known for her fundraising efforts in Surbiton where she lives, joined the local Contact the Elderly group when in launched in July. Previously Nancy has also hosted teas for Contact the Elderly .

In this clever revamp of Sleeping Beauty, Harry Splotter saves Sleeping Beauty from the three witches and her own mother. It is written by one of our hosts, Jemma Box, and proceeds will be donated to local charities, including Contact the Elderly.

The pantomime is set at the court of the King and Queen of Surbiton, and at Pigwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which Harry Splotter attends.  It is year of the Surbiton Olympics and the King’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations and the childless Queen is told that she will have a baby daughter, to be named Rose.  As she grows up she will be well (too well) looked after by the Child Protection Officer and the self- appointed Health and Safety Officer, the Queen.

Harry Splotter and his friends battle to save Princess Rose from the two of the witches so that she can marry Prince Charming.

Performances are on Saturday 3 March at 2.30pm and 6pm; and Sunday 4 March at 3pm and 6.30pm.

Tickets cost £5 or £15 for a family (up to 2 adults and 2 children) and are available from 1 February at: Regency Bookshop, 45 Victoria Road, Surbiton (020 8399 2188), KT6 4JL.; The Maple Road Farmers Market, Surbiton on Saturday 18 February and at St Andrew’s Church after the 10.15am service on Sundays.

The two ballet dancers explain ballet mime and performs parts of The Sleeping Beauty

It was a lovely afternoon when guests and volunteers from 4 London Contact the Elderly groups enjoyed tea at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Over the last 3 months guests and volunteers from different groups have enjoyed discounted tickets to 2 operas and 2 ballets.

Tony Hall, Chief Executive of the Royal Opera House, said: “We are delighted to be able to provide a great afternoon at the Opera House for older people facing isolation in their later years. Through the generous support of our sponsors, The Robert Gavron Charitable Trust, those who visited the Royal Opera House for the four performances were thrilled to be able to see world-class ballet from some of the best seats in the house. We are very grateful to the important work of Contact the Elderly in helping us to facilitate these days out.”

Frank, one of the older guests, helps one of the ballet dancers to hold the ballet position of attitude

As part of the partnership between the Royal Opera House and Contact the Elderly the older guests and volunteers were invited to come back for a special tea party. The guests and the drivers were met by the friendly Royal Opera House staff and escorted to an elegant dining area where they sat down to enjoy tea and sandwiches.

This was followed by a ballet workshop, led by two principal dancers from The Royal Ballet, who performed some of the choreography from Sleeping Beauty with the help of our older guests. Although many have reduced mobility, a few guests were more than willing to join in – as you can see from the photographs.

Joe as one of the four suitors giving the princess a rose

The session also included lots of interesting facts about ballet dancers’ shoes and costumes, as well a chance for the guests and volunteers to pose questions to the dancers. The hour workshop was then followed by scrumptious cakes and tea in the dining room.

Older guests from other London groups will be attending an opera workshop on Sunday 5^th February 2012.