Come on in! Former Mayor's project to tackle isolation among older people proves a hit

Councillor Alan Amos spent 12 months as the Mayor of Worcester before handing his chains back in May.

As part of his legacy, he set up a novel project called 'Come On In' aimed at addressing the isolation many elderly people suffer.

The project is based around the organisation of events like lunch clubs, snack and chat sessions, events and even film clubs - anything which gets pensioners together.

In recent months the 'Come On In' theme has been taken on enthusiastically by churches and now other venues have cottoned on too.

St John's Working Mens Club, in Church Terrace, holds a weekly film club under the Come On In banner.

Councillor Amos said: "Come On In is all about trying to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness amongst older people in Worcester and I'm delighted we are still continuing to expand.

"My project was not meant to be a one-off, but rather a continuing commitment to tackle the problem.

"My original aim was, and still is, to set up a city-wide network of luncheon club, snack and chat sessions, meet and greet groups together with events and entertainment sessions.

"The film club is a good example of this idea developing."

Under the Come On In theme more than £50,000 of funding has been generated towards helping elderly people in Worcester so far.

Several churches have used the project to secure around £30,000 in total towards meet-and-greet style get-togethers involving the community.

A lobby group called The Campaign to End Loneliness says 17 per cent of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11 per cent are in contact less than once a month.

Some 51 per cent of all people aged 75 or over live alone, and two fifths of all older people, about 3.9 million, say the television is their main company, according to research from Age UK.

The problem affects women more and men, with people in more rural counties among the worst hit.