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Gateshead Age UK ask business’s to get chinwagging

After recent reports have revealed loneliness has serious health risks, Age UK are stepping out to tackle loneliness.

Loneliness is becoming an increasing problem in a time of spending cuts, changes in social interaction and the birth of social media, it is a social problem which is ‘everyone’s business’. Studies show that our community bonds are in decline with the amount of people knowing their neighbours continually decreasing. Age UK want to overcome this problem encouraging communities to take combatting loneliness into their own hands

Age UK Gateshead is encouraging everyone in Gateshead to take part in its nationwide fundraiser The Big Chinwag on Friday 19th June to help the Charity combat loneliness. It couldn’t be simpler to get involved and make a difference, whether it’s catching up with colleagues in the office, taking a break at school or getting together with friends at home to have fun, feel good – and at the same time help raise vital funds for older people, even a £1 donation for an extra chat could make a lot of different.

Loneliness can be devastating and is a huge issue affecting people all year round with 140,000 people aged 65 plus in the North describing themselves as always or often feeling lonely1. It has an impact on mental and physical health with statistics showing it’s as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day2 – being lonely not only makes life miserable for older people, it is a threat to a happy and healthy later life.

Sharon Robinson; The head of Finance and business development at Age UK Gateshead said: “We all like a good chat so getting behind our Big Chinwag is a great excuse to take a well-earned break and schedule in that much needed catch up. We’re asking our army of chin-waggers to raise vital funds while having fun during their break to help us tackle loneliness which is stark reality for too many older people. Every penny really does count - just £20 could pay for a month of regular friendship calls to a lonely older person.”

Money raised from The Big Chinwag could help Age UK Gateshead tackle loneliness through a range of services such as their day centres where isolated older people are provided with a hot meal, entertainment as well as support and friendship. Their Telephone Companions service which provides regular telephone calls to isolated people, many of whom are unable to leave the house unaided. As well as their healthy lifestyles project which encourages older people to live life to the full with lunch clubs, exercise classes and hobby groups. It’s often simple things: someone to chat to, a visit or a call to look forward to, or getting out and about that matter.

For further information on The Big Chinwag visit www.ageuk.org.uk/gateshead or donate to Age UK Gateshead today by calling 0191 477 3559. People can share their Big Chinwag events and chin selfies on Facebook and Twitter using hashtag #bigchinwag.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Suzanne Cassels .