Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove urges locals to help tackle loneliness as thousands face Christmas alone
Published on 28 November 2025 12:26 PM
This Christmas, thousands of older people locally will spend the day alone. Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove (WSBH) is calling on the community to help change that by volunteering, donating or reaching out to a neighbour or older friend during the festive season.
Last year figures showed that 94,000 older people in the South East were lonely at Christmas, with many eating Christmas dinner alone. 130,000 said they feel more lonely at Christmas than any other time of the year. To tackle the issue, Age UK WSBH is asking people to do what they can to support older people in their community. This could mean offering to be a volunteer befriender, donating to the charity’s Christmas Appeal or inviting a neighbour over for a mince pie and a drink. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference at this time of year.
Last year figures showed that 94,000 older people in the South East were lonely at Christmas, with many eating Christmas dinner alone. 130,000 said they feel more lonely at Christmas than any other time of the year. To tackle the issue, Age UK WSBH is asking people to do what they can to support older people in their community. This could mean offering to be a volunteer befriender, donating to the charity’s Christmas Appeal or inviting a neighbour over for a mince pie and a drink. Small acts of kindness can make a big difference at this time of year.
The Age UK WSBH Christmas Appeal urges ‘Don’t let loneliness be their story,’ aiming to ensure older people don’t feel forgotten and they have somewhere to turn if feeling isolated or alone. The appeal will enable Age UK WSBH to support more people with things like community lunches, telephone advice services and home visits – lifelines for people who might otherwise have no one to talk to.
Jo Clarke, Deputy CEO at Age UK WSBH said: “The Christmas period is a really difficult time of year for thousands of older people, many of whom live alone or have been bereaved. We tackle loneliness head on by connecting people in groups and clubs, visiting them at home or offering a listening ear. A donation to our fundraising appeal can help us reach more people, so that loneliness doesn’t define their Christmas.
“We’re also asking people to think about what they can do locally. Some older people go for days without meaningful conversation, so offering a bit of time to talk and connect can make a huge difference, offering comfort and joy when it’s needed the most.”
Romaine Shiel, who takes calls on Age UK WSBH’s helpline, added: “Although some of our calls at Christmas can be difficult and emotional, I still love what I do. We often hear from people who are feeling absolutely hopeless but in the space of one call, we can turn it around. By offering some ongoing support and a listening ear, we can give them some hope back — you can hear the difference in their voice. We’re genuinely changing lives, so it feels amazing.”
To volunteer for Age UK WSBH or to donate to the charity’s Christmas appeal, please visit the donation page, call 0800 019 1310, or email info@ageukwsbh.org.uk.