Bring care home residents twice the happy new year!

Did you know that research shows older care home residents are twice as likely to feel lonely as older people living in the community?

Local charity Embracing Age combats this loneliness and brings connection, with trained volunteers regularly visiting care home residents doing activities the resident enjoys.

This Christmas, you can help bring twice the joy and companionship to older care home residents as Embracing Age is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge. Every pound donated to Embracing Age’s care home befriending campaign will be doubled thanks to a match-funding pot of £7,500 from The Reed Foundation and generous supporters of the charity.

The funds raised will enable Embracing Age to mobilise more trained volunteers to bring companionship and joy to more older care home residents.

You can support the campaign by attending their fundraising concert on Friday 1 December at St Stephen's Church, Twickenham - an uplifting evening of solo and ensemble classical music. Tickets are free to book and all donations on the night will be doubled. Find out full details and how to book.

Or you can donate directly to Embracing Age's campaign page from midday on 28 November until midday on 5 December, and see your donation doubled at no extra cost to you.

Whatever support you can give will make a huge difference and help older care home residents have twice the Happy New Year. 

If you would be interested in getting involved as a volunteer to bring joy to care home residents, Embracing Age has a variety of opportunities and you can give as little or as much time as you like. There is a high demand for befrienders to visit care home residents across the Borough of Richmond, and you will be given full training and ongoing support. You can also use your talents to bring joy through crafts or nature, or support the charity with admin or other professional skills. If you're considering your new year's resolutions and might be able to spare some time, check out Embracing Age's website and see how you could get involved and make a difference.