Charity hosts community group to tackle loneliness

Christmas wreaths were made at this week's session

A charity in Devon is hosting regular Community Cuppa groups to support older residents who live alone.

Age UK Plymouth holds the weekly sessions for over 50s, those living with dementia and their carers in the city.

This Christmas, the organisation will be hosting a party and delivering hot, Christmas meals out in the community.

According to the charity, there are 47,600 people over the age of 65 in Plymouth, with 35% of them living alone.

Michael Wills attends the sessions with his wife

Michael Wills is a regular client at Age UK Plymouth and participates in the weekly sessions.

He said: "It's wonderful because it gets you out the house, to meet a lot of people.

"I just have a really lovely, lovely time."

Research by Age UK this year revealed that 1.4 million older people in the UK are often lonely

Head of information and wellbeing at Age UK Plymouth, Sarah Allen, said that one of the main aims of the group was to promote positive mental wellbeing.

She said: "Throughout coronavirus, many people were more isolated than normal.

"It's really imperative that they have these groups that they can socialise in."

The organisation hosted a winter warm space in 2022, which will also be returning this winter.