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MORAY’S FIRST CONTACT THE ELDERLY group has launched with the charity already driving forward plan for a second in the region in the coming months.

Older people who live alone met one another and the volunteers who have committed to making an immeasurable difference at a volunteer host’s home.

Contact the Elderly organises free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for socially isolated older people. It currently has a list of older people in Forres who would benefit from this vital lifeline of friendship and a number of volunteers.

It needs additional volunteers and guests before it can launch the group – hopefully by the summer. Denise Robson, Development Officer at Contact the Elderly, said: “We are delighted to have brought Contact the Elderly to Moray.

“This is an area where we know there must be a huge demand for the tea, cake and conversation we provide – and it has been a matter of reaching those older people and encouraging volunteers to get involved.

“The first gathering of our Elgin group was wonderful and I am very confident this is a group that is going to turn loneliness into friendship very quickly. The guests and volunteers were all saying they were already looking forward to March’s tea party.

“Our next focus is Forres where we are looking to launch a group. We would love to be able to do this within the next few months. To do so, we need people to donate a little time to make an immeasurable difference. The experience in Elgin has shown us that the tea parties are very popular in Moray.”

Volunteer drivers collect one or two guests and accompany them to a party at volunteer hosts’ homes one Sunday afternoon a month. Hosts welcome groups of between eight and 12 people once or twice a year, providing an afternoon tea and warm welcome.

To find out more about becoming a guest or volunteer with Contact the Elderly in Moray, please contact denise.robson@contact-the-elderly.org.uk or 01542 285010.