Our Vision
Reduce isolation and provide companionship
How it starts
People can become socially isolated for a variety of reasons, such as getting older or weaker, no longer being the hub of their family, leaving the workplace, the deaths of spouses and friends, or through disability or illness.
Whatever the cause, it’s shockingly easy to be left feeling alone and vulnerable, which can lead to depression and a serious decline in physical health and wellbeing.
Some facts
Older people are especially vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation – and it can have a serious effect on health.
More than 2 million people in England over the age of 75 live alone, and more than a million older people say they go for over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member.
Someone who’s lonely probably also finds it hard to reach out.
Our services
Our charity provides a vital lifeline of companionship and practical help to many elderly people in Darlington. We help to relieve loneliness by visiting people in their own homes and in care homes. We reduce loneliness by giving older people the chance to join with others in outings, social and other events and at our Friends Forum which provides lunch and activities.
The charity also provides a spiritual dimension in providing access to Christian fellowship and worship. For those Friends who are Christian we aim to nurture them in their faith, and for those of other faiths or none to support them equally in our caring.
