Contact the Elderly has kicked of the New Year with a bang, being announced as the winner of the 2016 Aviva Community Fund receiving £10,000.

The funds will help support the charity’s existing groups, including two in Paisley, ensuring its older guests continue to have regular, free tea parties to look forward to throughout the year.

Contact the Elderly competed with hundreds of local organisations around the UK to receive funding as part of the Aviva Community Fund 2016. The annual nationwide initiative, which launched in September, called upon Aviva customers and passionate charity supporters to submit a project close to their hearts to be in with a chance of securing funding ranging from £1,000 up to £25,000.

Morna O’ May, Head of Scotland for Contact the Elderly said:

“We are thrilled to receive this fantastic funding boost from the Aviva Community Fund and would like to say a big thank you to all of our supporters who voted for us and helped spread the word.

“We are looking forward to putting this money to good use as we continue to make a real difference to the lives of our older guests, combatting loneliness and social isolation.”

Once a month, on a Sunday, a volunteer driver collects one or two guests from their homes and joins them at a volunteer’s house for afternoon tea before returning them safely home. A volunteer host welcomes a group of six to eight people once or twice a year.

To find out more about Contact the Elderly tea parties in your area or to become a guest or volunteer please visit www.contact-the-elderly.org.uk.