Stoke-on-Trent to have Christmas Day gathering for lonely people

Adam Birks uses his social media reach to raise money for good causes

A charity fundraiser is arranging a Christmas Day get-together for people who struggle with loneliness.

Adam Birks has already raised thousands of pounds for good causes in Stoke-on-Trent.

Now he hopes up to 200 people will attend the December event and has invited people to start applying for places.

He said: "It's one of the hardest times for people and I just want a day where they can just have an amazing [time]."

Mr Birks has hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and uses his reach to support a different charity every month. For the Christmas project, he has started gathering presents and other donations.

He said he knew what loneliness could feel like and added: "If we can have 200 people with a smile on their face and some food in their belly then that's the goal really."

Application forms for "No-one alone at Christmas" have been printed

The Age UK charity estimates that more than one million people will spend Christmas Day alone this year.

The Office for National Statistics said there were now half a million more people classed as "chronically alone" than before the coronavirus pandemic.