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The voice of Scotland’s vibrant voluntary sector

Published by Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations

TFN is published by the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Mansfield Traquair Centre, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB. The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO) is a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation. Registration number SC003558.

Loneliness summit to take place

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Contact the Elderly is hoping to expand on its work to tackle social isolation in central Scotland

Working together to combat the crippling misery of loneliness is the focus of a conference being held next week.

Organised by Contact the Elderly, which tackles social isolation among older people, the free event on Monday (August 26) will showcase the expansion of its work being planned for the Forth Valley.

The charity already has several groups in the area, including in Stirling, Dunblane and Falkirk, which meet monthly to enjoy a couple of hours out over an informal Sunday afternoon tea.

Guests, who are usually over 75 and live alone, gather at a volunteer host’s home and are chauffeured there by a fleet of volunteer drivers.

Across Scotland, more than 1000 guests regularly benefit from the tea parties which are a vital lifeline of friendship for many.

Monday’s event, A Connected Forth Valley Information Day, will hear from Contact the Elderly guests and some of the volunteers who make the tea parties happen. Delegates will also learn how to refer both volunteers and older people to the charity and have the opportunity to talk to staff who work in their area.

Contact the Elderly, head of service in Scotland, Morna O’May said: “In line with the Scottish Government's social isolation and loneliness strategy A Connected Scotland we are planning 'A Connected Forth Valley'.

“We aim to launch additional groups in the region to reach and link up with as many people in need of companionship as possible.

“The detrimental effects of loneliness can be wide-ranging and impact severely on the life of people who should be thoroughly enjoying their later years.

“This event will highlight what can be achieved by working together to ensure no member of the older generation is left isolated from the rest of society if they don’t want to be.”

The event is being held at The Engine Shed, Forthside Way, Stirling from 10am till 1pm, with tickets available now.