Ending Loneliness campaign update: "No one should have to spend Christmas alone"

A number of readers have contacted us to pledge their commitment to ensuring that nobody has to spend Christmas alone in our district.

One such reader is Anthony Lee who got in touch to share his plans to organise a free Christmas lunch for elderly people and anyone else who might otherwise be on their own in his neighbourhood.

Anthony said: “No one should have to spend Christmas alone, when I see elderly people walking around on their own on Harlow Hill who don’t have anyone to talk to, I just think, ‘why’? I don’t want anyone to be on their own, they don’t need to be, so that’s why I’m organising the Christmas lunch.”

Over the next few weeks, the Harrogate Advertiser will share with readers the Christmas events going on in our district for anyone who might otherwise spend Christmas Day on their own.

To read about how you could end loneliness by sharing a memory over a mince pie for Dementia Forward, click here: http://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/news/ending-loneliness-campaign-how-we-can-all-beat-loneliness-this-christmas-1-8246906

This week's Christmas events spotlight:

Wesley Chapel Christmas Day lunch, Oxford Street, Harrogate – A free three course lunch open to anyone who might otherwise be on their own at Christmas, starts at 12:30pm. Transport can be provided. To book, contact Philip Goodwin on: 01423 563990.

Free Christmas Day lunch at the Green Hut for Harlow Hill residents – Transport provided, pick-up at 1pm, for elderly people and others spending Christmas on their own. Contact Anthony Lee on 07710179717 or Fiona Clements: 07496 019347.

Ripon Salvation Army Reach Out Centre Christmas Day lunch, Lead Lane, Ripon, HG4 2NE, for anyone on their own this Christmas. Volunteer drivers can pick attendees up in the morning who can’t make their own way there usually between 10 and 10:30am, and take them to a free three-course lunch served at 12 with entertainment afterwards. To reserve a place or to volunteer, call: 01765 692657.

We would love to hear about any other events going on in the district to end loneliness this Christmas, and of course beyond. Email: [email protected] or call 01423 707505.

Each week we invite readers to get in touch with their ideas of how to tackle loneliness. Reader Deborah Thornton contacted the Harrogate Advertiser to raise awareness of the Home Library Service.

She said: “I was so pleased to read about the Advertiser’s new campaign – with the night’s drawing in and the cold weather starting I know many elderly people living alone are dreading the months ahead. You asked people to share anything they do to help alleviate the loneliness so I thought this would be a good opportunity to mention the Home Library Service.

“This is a free service run by North Yorkshire County Council and is available to anyone who enjoys reading but cannot get to the library. You can have books delivered if you are able get out and about but have trouble carrying things home (books are heavy!) - or on a short term basis if you are recovering from an operation or if you are a carer.

"We are a very flexible service and will help if we can. We offer books in ordinary and large print and people can also listen to audio books on CD or cassette. The titles chosen are tailored to the individual person’s interests.

"Books are delivered once a fortnight by volunteers who also have time to stay for a chat. A fortnightly delivery of new reading material and two friendly faces who have time to talk can make all the difference to somebody’s life.

"Potential customers or their friends & relatives are welcome to phone the Home Library Service on 01609 536 664 or email [email protected].”