Portsmouth people urged to sign up to give those facing Christmas alone a call on Christmas Day

The News has teamed up with Age UK Portsmouth to launch Christmas Calls – and pair people up with someone from the Portsmouth area who is facing Christmas Day and the festive season alone.

Pompey legend and Age UK Portsmouth patron Alan Knight is among those who will be doing calls on Christmas Day as well as Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan, Portsmouth North MP Penny Mordaunt, Fareham MP Suella Braverman and Havant MP Alan Mak.

Alan said: ‘I have been a patron of the charity for a couple of years now and it has been a real eye opener. Loneliness is something that is around all the time and Christmas is a time of when that is felt more than most and especially this year.

‘I think people should sign up and be a part of this because it will bring so much joy to those who are lonely and I think we need to look after the older generation a bit more.’

Valerie Emery, 89, knows how it feels to be lonely all year round but thanks to her befriender Suzy, a nurse at Queen Alexandra Hospital, she gets the chance to have a natter over a cup of tea every week.

She said: ‘My family live all over the world so I am so grateful that I get visits and phone calls, at the moment due to Covid, from Suzy.

‘She is lovely and I look forward to chatting to her every week.

‘I think people should sign up to Christmas Calls because it will mean so much to someone who is lonely. And anyone who is lonely they should sign up too. I felt worried at first about talking to a stranger but this life is a lottery and nothing ventured, nothing gained.

‘Having Suzy as my befriender has made me so happy.’

Age UK Portsmouth has done 750 welfare checks since the pandemic began and has seen an increase in the social isolation faced by older members of the community during lockdown.

Chief operations officer Rory Massey said: ‘Loneliness is an issue at all times of the year but there is a particular emphasis on Christmas as it is a time people spend with their families and friends.

‘Even more so this year as so many people have been impacted lockdown. A phone call will mean so much to those that are lonely and we really hope people carry on with the befriending service into 2021 and beyond.’

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Mandy Vaughan is a part of the Age UK Portsmouth specific veterans befriending service.

The 55-year-old, who left the The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers in February this year, said: ‘I am supporting a man at the moment and I had a lady before that and there is nothing like seeing their faces light up when you walk in the room or hear their smile over the phone.

‘There are so many people out there, and some are much younger than people think, who are craving a bit of human contact and from just an hour or so a week or a fortnight gives people so much and you get a lot from it as well so I would really urge people to sign up.’

Editor Mark Waldron added: ‘It is so important that this year, more than most, that we reach out to people who face spending the festive season alone.

‘The coronavirus pandemic and the lockdowns have affected everyone and we want to bring a little Christmas cheer to those who really need it and I think those choosing to sign up and help others will get a lot from it as well.’

To get involved in Christmas Calls campaign visit ageuk.org.uk/portsmouth/about-us/contact-us/ by Wednesday, November 25.

Please fill in the details on the contact form and put the below text in the message.

Hi,

I would like to take part in the Christmas Calls campaign with The News as a befriender / befriendee (*delete as appropriate)

Best wishes,

The team at Age UK Portsmouth will then contact you to fill in a DBS form which will cost £5. If you are unable to pay this will not exclude you from taking part.

Others who are unable to donate their time, can donate to Age UK Portsmouth to help fund other people’s DBS checks via justgiving.com/ageukportsmouth

If you are successful with the DBS check then you will be invited to an online induction meeting with the Age UK team before you are assigned your person to call at Christmas.

The deadline for the campaign is Wednesday, November 25 so that DBS checks can be carried out before Christmas Day.

You can also email Age UK Portsmouth to get involved on [email protected]

Or call 02392 862121. Lines are open Monday to Thursday between 8.45am and 5pm and Friday between 8.45am and 4.30pm.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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