I made a friend for life after we walked & laughed in park together – here’s how YOU can help
WITH Covid restrictions, this year has seen more people than ever suffering social isolation.
Yet we all have the power to help end the misery that loneliness brings.
That is why The Sun has launched our Christmas Together campaign, to ensure no one is left out in the cold.
We have teamed up with the Royal Voluntary Service and the Together Campaign, a coalition of community groups and organisations led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, to sign up volunteers to help those who are all alone. Our drive is also backed by the Jo Cox Foundation, whose Great Winter Get Together is also urging people to help others in their communities.
As part of our campaign, we are celebrating your acts of kindness in helping combat loneliness.
If you know an unsung community hero or someone who has gone above and beyond to put a smile on people’s faces, let us know.
From befriending elderly neighbours and delivering food hampers to writing letters to care home residents, we reveal some of the incredible acts of kindness seen up and down the country.
Additional reporting: Clare O’Reilly and Alun Palmer.
‘We laugh and dance together and I’ve made a friend for life’
WITH a near four-decade age difference, Ellie Rink, 29, and 66-year-old Glady Reyes might seem an unusual pairing.
But that hasn’t stopped the two women forging a firm friendship.
Charity worker Ellie and retired cleaner Gladys, originally from Ecuador, met after Ellie was furloughed in the first lockdown and volunteered for a local church that paired volunteers with vulnerable members of its congregation.
The pair, both from Wandsworth in South West London, spoke regularly on the phone for four months before meeting. They now enjoy shopping trips and walks in the park together. Ellie said: “At first, it was checking in with a telephone call a couple of times a week to chat to Gladys and make sure she was doing OK because she lives alone.
“Then, when lockdown was loosened, I did her shopping for her and would leave it on her doorstep.
“Now we go for a walk once a week too. We laugh and dance and Gladys teaches me about cooking.
“I’ve definitely made a friend for life.”
Gladys added: “I have a son Reinaldo and daughter Carla in Ecuador who are 44 and 35 and I miss them terribly, but Ellie always cheers me up.
“We have a giggle together and I really look forward to seeing her. We will be friends for ever. She’s enriched my life.”
Ellie, who believes everyone can spare some time to help someone else in their local community, added: “People believe you have to do something seismic to make a difference, but you don’t.
“There are enriching experiences right there on your doorstep.
“Cities, especially, can be isolating but Gladys has given me a sense of purpose. She has given me just as much, if not more, than I’ve given her.
“If anyone’s thinking of volunteering, I would say give it a go and don’t underestimate the value of seeing those around you.”
NEED HELP?
IF you are someone who would like a friendly call or you need a helping hand with errands, just call 0808 196 3646 (8am-8pm, seven days a week).
‘Elderly residents will keep their letter and read it over and over’
WHEN Covid restrictions stopped visits to care homes, Sharron Wilkinson set up a letter-writing scheme to help spread some joy.
Since then, more than 300 letters have been delivered to residents in Kirklees, West Yorks – and Sharron has no intention of stopping yet.
The 48-year-old, from Huddersfield, said: “The response has been absolutely amazing. We’ve had letters from retired people, nurses, teachers, people from all walks of life – mostly from within the area but we’ve also had some from France, Italy and even Australia.
“We’ve had pictures from children and letters from teenagers showing so much compassion.
“Together with staff from the Locala health organisation, we check every letter and we’ve been in tears so many times.”
The mum of two, a volunteer manager for a local charity, set up Give A Few Words (thegive.co.uk) six months ago after being contacted by a care home whose residents were feeling isolated.
Sharron set up her website after gaining funding from One Community and help from organisations including the Jo Cox Foundation and Huddersfield Town FC Foundation.
She said: “It just took off. Our writers can send their letters by email or hand-written. The only stipulation is that they have to send positive messages.
“We get a list of first names from the care homes and what each person is interested in so we can try to match them with someone similar.
“The senders don’t just write letters – they often draw pictures, send poems and even make cards. We’ve had amazing feedback.
“Care-home staff tell us that often, the person will keep the letter and read it over and over again.”
One of the recipients is Catherine Hunter, 90, who has lived at Lydgate Lodge care home in Batley, West Yorks, for nearly two years.
She said: “It’s so lovely that people who don’t even know me have taken the time to write me a letter. I am very grateful and the letters are incredibly touching.
“The little things really do go a long way.”
NOW GET INVOLVED
JOIN our army of volunteers to support those feeling cut off, anxious and isolated this Christmas.
Could YOU reach out to someone who might be struggling alone?
We can connect you with someone in need through the NHS Volunteer Responder programme, Royal Voluntary Service and the GoodSAM app. Could you give up half an hour to make a call to someone feeling lonely?
Or could you volunteer to deliver essential shopping or festive treats? You will be matched with someone in your area.
To sign up as a volunteer go to .
You will then receive an email to sign up online.
You will need a smartphone, as you will be asked to download the Volunteer Responder app, which will match you to those in need.
Don’t worry if you don’t get a job straight away. They are matched according to the need local to you.
Being ready to help is what really matters.
‘Brownies wanted to cheer up older people’
WHEN a group of Guides and Brownies heard how lonely elderly people stuck at home were in lockdown, they leapt into action.
And since April, the girls from 3rd and 4th Ellesmere Port Brownies and 4th Ellesmere Port Guides in Cheshire have been writing letters to residents of Chester-based Home Instead Senior Care.
Guides unit leader Emma Doran, 47, who has volunteered for the Guides for 25 years, said: “We all talked about it on Zoom and wondered what we could do to help cheer them up.
“The girls began to write about what they had been up to in lockdown and what they had done, to hopefully brighten up the day of the elderly residents. The Guides are aged between ten and 15 so lockdown was tough for them and they told them they were doing more jigsaws and bike rides.
“They just told them about everything they had been doing, like clapping for carers, and gave the elderly residents an insight into what had been going on with their families. The feedback has been fantastic. They have loved that contact.”
Read More on The Sun
Emma added that The Sun’s campaign is a superb initiative.
She said: “The campaign is absolutely brilliant. We know first hand how lonely elderly people can be. Anything to help has to be applauded.”
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HOW TO DONATE
IF you would like to donate to support the work of the Royal Voluntary Service, text RVS5 to 70570 to donate £5, visit , or call 0800 731 9197 – lines open Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm.
THE Royal Voluntary Service receives 100 per cent of your donation. Texts cost £5 plus one message at your standard network rate. Always get the bill payer’s permission. UK networks only. The Royal Voluntary Service would like to contact the people who text by phone and SMS with campaign updates and new appeals. If you want to give but don’t want these updates, type NO INFO after RVS5 when making your donation.
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