Contact the Elderly provides free monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for people aged 75 and over who are socially isolated, and has been described by some as a lifeline of friendship.

Eleven local groups from in and around Glasgow, including the group in Renfrewshire, recently joined forces for a tea party to celebrate the charity’s fiftieth year.

Ordinarily a volunteer host welcomes a small group of around six guests and four drivers at their home once or twice a year, and each group enjoys 12 tea parties a year. On this occasion however, the venue was Kinlochard Village Hall and more than 100 guests and volunteers attended.

Tea parties have been held annually in Kinlochard for 43 years and the volunteer who arranged the first one, Saffrey Miller, is still involved today!

Guests were piped into the hall by 11 year old Murray O’May, and enjoyed music from harpist Katherine Harrison and Care for a Ceilidh, a scheme which sees musicians providing short concerts to residents of care homes in and around Glasgow.

Tunnocks also donated a beautiful cake for the Golden Jubilee tea party and Chief Executive Officer, Mary Rance travelled from London for the special tea party. Commenting on the day, she said:

“For me, it was one of the most rewarding tea party events I have attended and so wonderful to see our work in action.

“Everyone seemed to be really enjoying themselves, guests and volunteers alike. The entertainment was superb and I could see how much work had gone into making it such a success.”

Across Scotland, Contact the Elderly supports 764 people aged 75 and over through its network of 1,035 volunteers.

To find out how to volunteer with Contact the Elderly, if you would like to become a guest, or know someone who could benefit from this unique charity please contact Caroline McGinlay, Scotland – Volunteer Support Officer on 0141 812 1555 orcaroline.mcginlay@contact-the-elderly.org.uk

 

Image 1- Overall view of 11 groups

Image 2- Alex and Mary (Rance – CEO) cutting the cake donated by Tunnocks

Image 3- Katherine playing the harp

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Founder of Paisley.org.uk in 1998 and constantly strives to change peoples attitudes to the town, Brian is a self described Paisley Digital Champion who promotes Paisley via any means necessary. You can also follow me on X