Age UK spreads festive cheer with Christmas Shoebox  appeal for isolated older people

Loneliness is increasingly being recognised as a priority public health and policy issue across all age groups, and at Christmas, it can be felt the most for older people living alone, with no family or friends to share the festive season with.

The winter months can also be especially tough as many pensioners are unable to get out and socialise due to bad weather conditions, poor health or because they are unable to afford it.

This December, Age UK wants to show older people that they are not alone through its Christmas Shoebox Appeal.

With the help of the community, it aims to deliver small gift boxes to those who might be alone at Christmas.

Fay Scullion, CEO of Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington, told GB News: "We've asked the local population and the public to put together a shoe box with small gifts.

"The gifts could be chocolate biscuits, warm socks, gloves, personal items, anything really that would be suitable for an older person.

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"Our aim is to deliver those gifts running up to Christmas, and that's about ensuring that people haven't felt forgotten at Christmas time.

"Often they can be lonely, family can live away, they suffer from social isolation, and we deliver that just to make sure that they feel valued and feel wanted."

The Government's decision to effectively cut automatic Winter Fuel payments for all pensioners has resulted in around one million elderly Britons skipping meals, according to Age UK.

Earlier this year, Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that up to £300 in energy bill support will be reserved for those on means-tested benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions, such as Pension Credit.

It is understood that there is a backlog of Pension Credit applications waiting to be processed with thousands of pensioners waiting up to 12 weeks to access the gateway benefit to the Winter Fuel Payment.

The Darlington and North Yorkshire branch of Age UK offers a warm space and free or discounted meals - a crucial initiative for older people struggling with finances this winter.

"They [many older people] have to choose between eating or heating and that is it's very real for some people," said Scullion.

"We've seen a gradual increase in people coming to our facility. It is a warm space and the doors are open seven days a week to everyone.

"We're just about to start, for those people who have pension credits or who have extreme difficulty, where they can come and have a free hot meal, and then for other people we have free drinks or discounted food.

"But what we really want is people to come in to be warm, to socialise and to feel valued."

When GB News visited, the cafe at Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington was being used as a veteran breakfast club, which is held every week for ex-force members.

Veteran Robin Ellwood, 71, is part of the group and said: "We've all served, and a lot of us miss what we did because we're no longer doing it.

"But it's a chance to meet up with people who've experienced the same as us and can relate to it.

"I struggle to get around in the house, and I have to use a mobility scooter now to get around outside, so it's an opportunity to meet up with people you know and get out of the house because if you stay in a house all day, you'd go absolutely crackers."

Retired volunteers at Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington also give their time there to help other pensioners in the community.

Mary McDonogh, 73, is a Volunteer Receptionist and told GB News: "I just wanted to keep busy and also to keep your grey matter going and that type of thing. So yeah, it certainly does that."

Edna Sinclair, 81, is a Volunteer Kitchen Assistant and talking about her role, she added: "You know, you've done something and you've spoken to somebody who's been on their own, and mostly you make friends with people.

"The atmosphere is so nice because it becomes very friendly."

The Age UK North Yorkshire and Darlington Shoebox Appeal runs 16th December and is a way to give back to the elderly this Christmas.

You can drop off donations at Bradbury House, Beaumont Street West, Darlington, between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

To donate online to help older people across Britain this Christmas, click HERE