Charity helps reduce loneliness with Christmas lunches

In addition to its popular Christmas Parcels Project, which provided one hundred personal gifts delivered at home to older local residents, the charity also organised two special festive lunches for over 50 people.

“Unfortunately we had to cancel our Chrismtas events in 2020 due to the pandemic, so it was lovely to get together once more and celebrate the festivities,” said charity trustee and organiser Anita Dunford.

“Our special lunch events, held over two weeks, enabled some of our older residents to meet up with others and to share a meal and conversation. Many of our guests lived alone and the purpose of the charity’s social events is to alleviate loneliness, improve individual quality of life, and to maintain and increase social interaction. Bringing people together in this setting helped to achieve that. And the venue both lunches – the restaurant at Audley Clevedon Retirement Village – was the perfect place to cater for our guests. The food and service was superb, and we would like to thank all those concerned in providing a wonderful festive occasion for an appreciative group of deserving people.”

The charity’s next festive event will be its annual trip in January with 60 local residents to the pantomime at the Kings Hall to see Goldilocks and the Three Bears, performed by Ilkley Upstagers.

“Funding for this year’s festive events was from a donation by Tesco Ilkley, for which we are extremely grateful,” added Anita.

A number of social events are arranged throughout the year by the charity. Amongst its regular projects are social groups such as Moving On, which meets each week at the Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley, with guest speakers, information sessions and day trips to different locations.

Ilkley Good Neighbours always welcomes new volunteers to help with its schemes. For further information on these and volunteering opportunities visit: www.goodneighboursilkley.org.uk or telephone 01943 603348.