Donate your unwanted Christmas presents to the Age UK Polegate shop and help lonely older people in crisis this winter
Christmas may be coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the goodwill has to be! The Age UK shop in Polegate is calling on people to keep the festive spirit going by joining The Great Winter Bag Drop and donating any unwanted presents to help raise funds to support lonely older people.
Loneliness and social isolation are issues all year, but winter, and Christmas especially, can be particularly tough. With routine services winding down, shops closing early or shutting completely, colder weather, shorter days and changes in people’s health, it becomes harder for many to sustain social connections, whether they celebrate Christmas or not.
New research from Age UK highlights the stark reality of just how lonely this time of year is for older people:
- 1.5 million will be eating dinner alone on Christmas Day
- 670,000 won’t see or speak to anyone on Christmas Day
- 1 million are more isolated at Christmas than any other time of the year
Age UK shops are reliant on generous donations from the public, which are sold on to be loved again, raising funds for the Charity’s work. That’s why Age UK has launched an urgent stock appeal, The Great Winter Bag Drop, so that the Charity’s shops can continue to raise much-needed funds to support lonely older people in crisis this winter.
Donating any unwanted gifts can help Age UK to continue to run its much-needed services for those who have no one else to turn to, such as its Telephone Friendship Service, The Silver Line Helpline and Advice Line. These services can be a lifeline to older people by providing friendship, support and advice to those who are vulnerable and struggling this winter.
Simply donate any unwanted presents, including clothing, toys, books, games and household items to the Age UK Polegate shop. Each bag of donations typically raises around £15 — enough to fund a weekly telephone friendship call for a lonely older person.
Rachael, Manager at the Age UK shop in Polegate, said: “It can be difficult to know what to do with gifts that will never be used, or that you don’t want. However, loneliness and social isolation are year-round problems for older people, and winter can be particularly tough. That’s why we’re asking local residents to donate them to the Age UK shop in Polegate. Whether it’s a board game you already have, or a jumper that isn’t your style, every unwanted gift donated will make a difference to the lives of older.”
When donating people can make their donations worth an extra 25% for the Charity by signing up to Gift Aid. Simply filling out a basic form when dropping off donations means Age UK will receive an extra 25p from the government for every £1 that is raised from donated goods.
People can also support the Age UK Polegate shop by signing up as a volunteer. Just a few hours a week can help make a difference. To find out more about Age UK’s shops and how you can help, please visit Charity Shop Volunteering | Age UK
Age UK has over 250 shops across England and Wales, which are reliant on the generous donations of the local community to keep the shelves stocked and are supported by a team of dedicated staff and volunteers. To find your nearest Age UK shop visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/shops
To find out more about Age UK’s winter appeal, A Crisis Hiding in Plain Sight, please visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/appeal.
Anyone who needs support, who is worried about an older relative or friend or wants to find out more about Age UK’s friendship services, can get in touch by calling the Age UK Advice free of charge, on 0800 169 6565 (8am-7pm), or visit ageuk.org.uk. Any older person looking for a cheerful chat day or night can call Age UK’s Silver Line Helpline, on 0800 4 70 80 90.