Free Monthly Belfast Tea Parties For Over 75s

Over 75s who are living alone in Belfast will soon have the opportunity to attend free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties, thanks to a new charity initiative launching in the local area. Contact the Elderly tea parties, which began over 50 years ago in London, are set to start running in Belfast in March - and will offer a lifeline of company, cake and conversation to older people feeling alone in the area.



The charity, which has already started recruiting the support of willing local volunteers, will organise monthly tea parties for small groups of older people, aged 75 and above, who live alone and would like some company on a Sunday afternoon. Guests are collected from their home by a volunteer driver and taken to a volunteer host’s home, where they meet with a small group for tea, chat and friendship. The group is welcomed by a different host each month, but the drivers remain the same which means that over the months and years, acquaintances turn into friends and loneliness is replaced by companionship.



Contact the Elderly’s Development Officer for Northern Ireland, Jenny Bright, said: “We are delighted to announce that we are finally launching our tea parties in Northern Ireland. We are confident that the Belfast group will be a great success, and we’re so pleased to have a number of local volunteers who are ready to help.



“For older people who live alone, Sundays can be particularly long and difficult. These tea parties give people a chance to get together with others, make new friends, eat delicious cakes and enjoy a cup of tea. The monthly events make a real difference to the lives of those in the group and we would encourage anyone interested in coming along, or those who would like to refer someone, to get in touch.”



Belfast residents, aged 75 and above, who live alone and are interested in joining the Contact the Elderly tea party group can contact the charity’s national office on 0800 716543 or email jenny.bright@contact-the-elderly.org.uk



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