A CHARITY is urgently appealing for volunteers to come forward as it looks to relaunch a service helping isolated pensioners in Braintree.

Contact the Elderly, which tackles loneliness among the over-75s through activities such as tea parties, is looking to relaunch its service in the town after receiving a cash boost from the People’s Postcode Lottery.

The original group folded in late 2017 due to a lack of volunteer drivers, but bosses say there is still a lot of interest in the town from older people so they want to relaunch it.

Jean Lawrence, 89, has been regularly attending the group’s tea parties in Wethersfield for more than six years and has seen the benefits.

She said: “Although it is getting harder for me to get out I will try to keep coming because I like getting out to meet people and talk to them.”

To get the monthly events going again, the charity needs volunteer drivers to collect and accompany older guests to their event, and hosts who can welcome a small group into their home.

Development officer Alex Berwick said: “We’re excited to be relaunching the service in the area and we already have a number of guests waiting for the monthly gatherings to begin.

“Our older guests are isolated from family and friends and aren’t able to get out and about much, so our monthly tea parties are incredibly important to them and they look forward to each event immensely.

“We’re very lucky to already have a small group of volunteers ready for the launch of the group.

“But for the events to run smoothly, we need help from a few more drivers to accompany more older guests to the tea parties and hosts who can welcome a small group of people into their home for tea and cake once or twice a year.”

Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer or who knows someone over the age of 75 who lives alone and would be interested in attending is asked to email alexandra.berwick@contact-the-elderly.org.uk or call 0800 716 543.