A tough winter ahead

As temperatures drop and festive lights begin to glow, Age UK Solihull is calling on the Solihull community to help older residents who face the winter months in isolation, anxiety, and financial hardship.

Solihull has one of the fastest-ageing populations in the UK, with 21.3% of residents aged 65 and over - well above the national average. It’s estimated that more than 3,400 older people in the borough are experiencing loneliness, and many are struggling to afford heating, food, or even basic home repairs.

Loneliness is a growing crisis - one that’s often hidden in plain sight. Loneliness can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and it is often felt even more deeply in the winter months when combined with health issues, higher fuel bills and rising costs of food and other essentials.

Our services, including befriending visits, lunch clubs, digital inclusion support, a Winter Warmth project, and an advice line, offer a lifeline to those most at risk.

With winter being the most difficult time of year for many older people in Solihull, we've been busy planning festive activities, including Christmas meals, gifts and parties, to make this time of year a little brighter for the people we support. For many older people, these activities will be the only celebration they have this festive season.

Our CEO, Anne Hastings, said: “Every day we are seeing and hearing from older Solihull residents who are worried about facing a tough winter. Many are struggling with their health, finances and loneliness, and the cold weather and rising costs lead to even more disconnection and isolation. We are here to offer advice, practical support and a friendly listening ear for older Solihull residents who need us this winter and beyond. We won’t let older people in Solihull spend a winter alone or cold, and we are always grateful for the support of the local community to help us to be here for those who need us.”

We are calling on local residents, businesses and community groups to support our winter appeal to enable us to continue to provide our vital services and make the festive period brighter for those who are alone or struggling. Here are some of the ways you can get involved:

• Host a Jingle Bakes festive bake sale. Sign up here to receive a hosting pack full of recipes, decorations, activities and everything you need to make your bake sale a sweet success.
• Join our Weekly Lottery, or gift a membership to a loved one, for the chance to win up to £25,000 while raising funds to help older residents. Sign up here.
• Donate a box of chocolates or biscuits to be given to older people who might not otherwise receive a gift this festive period. Or take a tag off the Christmas tree in Dunelm Solihull and buy a gift for an older person who is on their own this Christmas, as part of Dunelm’s “Delivering Joy” campaign. Find out more about donating a gift here.
• Volunteer your time to help with one-off festive activities, or sign up to become a befriender and visit a lonely older person on a weekly basis. See our volunteering opportunities here.
• Make a donation to help the charity provide friendship, support and advice for older and vulnerable Solihull residents when they need it most.

Donate here

Every action - whether a donation, a bake sale, or a friendship visit - helps ensure older people in Solihull feel remembered, supported, and connected. To donate and find out more about any of the above, visit ageuk.org.uk/Solihull/Christmas

Older people in Solihull, as well as their families, friends and carers, looking for support should visit www.ageuksolihull.org.uk or call the Age UK Solihull Advice Line on 0121 704 7840.

ENDS

Notes to Editor

About Age UK Solihull

Age UK Solihull is a local charity based in The Core, Solihull Central Library, also providing information and advice from the Community Advice Hub in Chelmsley Wood Library. The charity helps around 10,000 older and vulnerable people in the Solihull borough each year and has to raise £1.9m to pay for its services. For help, call 0121 704 7840 or visit www.ageuksolihull.org.uk