A STUNNING response from Oxford Mail readers and firms has brought the Lonely this Christmas campaign to a close with more than £2,000 raised in just a few weeks. This will pay for almost 740 calls from Age UK Oxfordshire’s volunteer Phone Friends to people in county who are suffering from loneliness in their old age.

And 30 people have expressed interest in becoming Phone Friends themselves, three times the campaign’s original target.

Paul Cann, chief executive of Age UK Oxfordshire, said: “The campaign has been a roaring success on all fronts and the most stunning awareness-raising exercise.

“We have been moved by the sensitivity and generosity of the Oxford Mail and the Oxfordshire public, who have got behind the message that no one should be lonely at Christmas. It’s a wonderful tribute to the local community.”

Throughout the Lonely this Christmas appeal, older residents blighted by loneliness who benefit from the Phone Friends service have recounted their stories to the paper.

First to speak up and launch the campaign was Roy Croucher, 86, who lost his wife Margaret in 2008 and for whom several days each week are spent alone.

After reading the article in the Oxford Mail, Unipart, an Oxford-based manufacturing and logistics firm, and Mr Croucher’s former employer, invited him to their annual employees’ Christmas lunch on December 16 and donated £500 to the appeal.

Mr Croucher said: “It made my day, and brought back memories. I felt honoured to be picked out of all the thousands of people who are in my position. The money for the phone calls is marvellous.

“It’s important to keep the service going because people don’t realise what loneliness is. You can have your memories, but when you go out you come back to an empty house.”

Marilynn Cross, also benefitted from the campaign. A cousin in Pershore, Worcestershire, got in touch for the first time in 60 years after a relative in Chipping Norton sent him the Oxford Mail’s story.

In the final week of the appeal recruitment firm Allen Associates also weighed in with a donation of £100.

The firm also sponsors the Oxford Mail’s annual OX5 run, which raises money for the Oxford Children’s Hospital.


HOW TO HELP

 - Donate to the Lonely this Christmas appeal to support Age UK Oxfordshire and its Phone Friends service. Text AUKO52 £3 to 70070 to give £3 or visitcampaign.justgiving.com/charity/ageukoxfordshire/endloneliness to pledge an amount of your choice.

- Volunteer with Age UK Oxfordshire. Ten new recruits are being sought over the Christmas period. There is no set minimum age and Phone Friends can volunteer from just two hours per week. 

- To find out more, email volunteering@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk.

- If you’re organising a Christmas lunch for neighbours and older people who may not have anyone to share the day with, register it at communitychristmas.org.uk.