Charity of the Year: Contact the Elderly
Contact the Elderly is a nationwide charity that runs community tea parties each month for older people.
These parties help those aged 75 and over, perhaps without nearby friends and family or the ability to get out on their own, maintain a connection with others. The afternoons provide ‘a regular and vital friendship link’, for people who might be feeling isolated and lonely.
“I’m on my own 24 hours a day except for the milkman. You see no one, hear no one, except for the milkman. Man wasn’t meant to be alone.” – Bill, 87
Since its very first tea party over 50 years ago, the charity has helped over 100,000 older people reconnect and enjoy the company of others.
Through the work of local volunteers and fundraisers, the charity hosts tea parties, as well as transport older people directly to and from the events.
At Hireserve, we’ll be running fundraising events throughout the year to help support our local Contact the Elderly group. We’ll also be hosting tea parties at the office and encouraging our team members to get involved, through fundraising and volunteering.
“We are very excited to begin supporting Contact the Elderly. This is the first time Hireserve has selected a formal Charity of the Year, and Contact the Elderly was chosen after a team vote. The charity touched a lot of our hearts and we are delighted to help them continue their very important work through team fundraising and volunteering.” – Karen Ovenden, Operations Director of Hireserve
We’re hosting our first tea party in August, where our team members will get involved with running the event, getting to know guests, and supplying plenty of tea and cake.
This short but moving video demonstrates the importance of Contact the Elderly and how it can make a difference to people’s lives. Meet Jim:
Please be aware some elements of this video may be sensitive or upsetting.
To find out more about the charity and its work, visit the Contact the Elderly website.
“Contact the Elderly has changed my life. I feel like I have a whole new set of friends to talk to. It’s wonderful.” – Maud, 87
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About the author
Tristan Potter
Tristan has a decade's worth of experience writing content and copy for organisations across Bristol and the Southwest of England. He has written on a diverse range of topics, including technology, philosophy, politics, and recruitment. His writing has appeared in The Drum, HR Grapevine, and The Guardian, among other publications. He joined Hireserve in March 2022.