The Pavers Foundation has donated £600 to Re-engage, a charity that focuses of tackling loneliness in older member of the community by organising among other things, phone calls with volunteers and social tea parties. Pavers Foundation donated the money on behalf of Catherine Frost, a Pavers colleague from the Doncaster Lakeside store.
The social tea parties are an integral event for the charity and are open to people aged 75 and over who may be isolated and in need of companionship, they can attend the parties to connect with other people in their area, enjoy some tea and cake, make new friends and combat loneliness within the community.
Doncaster Re-engage co-ordinator Rosemary Chappell told us how the volunteers in her area have been part of Re-engage for several years and how they drive the amazing work of the charity. On the tea parties Rosemary said, ‘One really needs to attend a Re-engage tea party to understand what such a simple event means to our guests. It is something for them to look forward to; it is somewhere where they know they will be safe and warm; it is somewhere where they will be among friends; it is somewhere where there will be fun and laughter and, above all, it is somewhere where, for an afternoon at least, they won’t be alone’.
At the last tea party, guest commented on their reasons for joining the group. These ranged from just having something to look forward too and being able to get out and about to the joy of making new friends. As a host of the parties Sarah said ‘I love to welcome people into my home and see their smiling faces’.
Catherine Frost, of Pavers Shoes in Doncaster has been a volunteer driver for Re-engage for 10 years, helping the members get to and from social tea parties who attend at no cost to themselves. Catherine said, “I love this group and enjoy seeing the pleasure that these trips out can give.”