The annual Older People Christmas parties have taken place to help combat loneliness and social isolation in Liverpool.
Funded by ward councillors and the Mayor’s Fund and hosted by the Florrie in L8, over 1,500 older residents joined in the celebrations enjoying live entertainment including the Everton Nursery Choir and a three course Christmas dinner cooked by the students from Liverpool City College catering team.
Charitable raffles, bingo and spot the ball raised £4,900 for Everton Nursery, Whitefield Primary School, The Whitechapel Centre, The Lord Mayor’s Charities, SFX Pensioners and Kirkdale Boxing Christmas Hamper Appeal.
Everton Nursery will be using their donation towards buying educational tablets while Whitefield Primary will be treating the children to a visit to the panto.
The Whitechapel Centre will be using their contribution towards their Christmas day dinners for the homeless.
Councillor Gerard Woodhouse, Mayoral Lead for Older People said ‘Loneliness can have a detrimental effect on the health and wellbeing of our older people. The Christmas parties are just one event in a calendar of events organised to help reduce the social isolation of older people, such as short break holidays, market days and cabaret’s. Thank you to Jackie Connolly, Helping Hand Coordinator at Plus Dane for all her hard work.”
One resident, Margaret commented: “It was a lovely day, everyone commented on how much they enjoyed it. The excellent food served by the young volunteers was faultless. We were all up singing and dancing to the singer who had a great voice.”
Residents, Bob and Sarah said: ‘”It was a wonderful Christmas party, the atmosphere was electric. We could not have asked for a more wonderful day.”
