TV star Angellica Bell backs Sun’s Xmas SOS Appeal as millions of older people struggle with loneliness over holiday
LEADING a conga around the floor, TV presenter Angellica Bell is spreading Christmas joy. But behind the dancing, there’s a serious message.
The former kids’ telly host is backing The Sun’s Christmas SOS Appeal with Age UK, to combat loneliness and isolation among older people.
We are asking readers to donate money to Age UK, volunteer as a phone befriender or visit one of its shops.
And at the charity’s Merton centre in Mitcham, South London, Angellica takes to the microphone to lead the pensioners in singing and dancing at their Sparkle Party.
The former CBBC presenter, now a consumer journalist who has worked on The One Show, says we can all do our bit to help.
I have worked with older people a lot in my job, especially on The One Show. Look at the energy here. They’ve got such a wealth of knowledge and often, sadly, their needs are forgotten about
Angellica Bell
Angellica, 48, said: “I value the older generation, their wisdom and what they give.
“I have worked with older people a lot in my job, especially on The One Show.
“Look at the energy here.
“They’ve got such a wealth of knowledge and often, sadly, their needs are forgotten about.”
Figures from Age UK show more than 4.6million people aged 65 and over in England experience one or more of the following: Loneliness, poor health, an unmet need for care, and poverty.
And in the current tough financial climate, the charity’s centres provide vital assistance, helping pensioners learn about the benefits they can claim — and to not be afraid to ask for help.
Angellica said: “Age UK provides not just the social aspect but helping with forms.
“Older people can be one of the worst groups for coming forward and asking for support.
“And there is the not knowing what they can claim.
“The wealth of information and technology can be daunting for a generation where a lot is done online.”
As a big supporter of the charity, Angellica, who won Celebrity MasterChef in 2017, says we can all learn from older people.
“My grandmother was the keystone of our family and I loved spending time with her,” she says.
“She was a cook from the Caribbean in St Lucia.
Reassuring support
“The time with her, the songs we learnt, those experiences I had with her helped me to go on and win MasterChef.
“I’m grateful for that.
“A lot of people are in their family units now, but you never know what is going to happen in 20 or 30 years and who you will be with.
“If you know these sorts of charities are around, to have that support and network is really reassuring.”
Anne Pittham, 72, retired from nursing after more than 50 years in April 2023.
She says the centre has been a lifeline for her.
“Coming here really saved me because I am prone to depression,” says Anne.
“Loneliness could have been the problem for me.
“I found having a structure to my day helps.”
I come about four times a week. If you are not here a couple of times, they will phone you to see if you are all right. And if I’m feeling a bit down, they know. They are ever so kind and considerate.
Lynda Matson, 72
Anne comes to the centre for singing, craft sessions, board games and their days out.
She said: “We’ve been to the Science Museum, a boat trip on the River Thames.
“There are lots of things I wanted to do but didn’t want to do on my own.”
Lynda Matson, 72, has been attending the centre regularly since April after her husband John, 86, died.
“This is my home from home,” she says.
“I come about four times a week.
“If you are not here a couple of times, they will phone you to see if you are all right.
“And if I’m feeling a bit down, they know.
“They are ever so kind and considerate.”
Its lunch club serves freshly prepared hot meals.
Lynda, who was as a shop assistant in Sainsbury’s before retiring, says the centre has helped her practically.
“You are saving on your heating and you can have proper food,” she says.
“Last year, when my husband wasn’t very well and I couldn’t keep him warm, they said, ‘Don’t heat the house, heat him’.
“I bought him slippers, more clothes and a warm blanket.
“It’s little things like that that have helped.”
The practical advice from the support teams is more in demand than ever since the Government axed the Winter Fuel Payment for hundreds of thousands of pensioners, making the allowance means tested.
Those who receive Pension Credit will keep the Winter Fuel Payment, worth up to £300.
But an estimated 800,000 people eligible for pension credit do not currently claim it so the race is on to make sure they do not miss out.
Roaring success
They have until December 21 to apply and ask for it to be backdated to keep the Winter Fuel Payment.
Amanda Gibson, 54, the centre’s information and advice manager, says: “Our main focus is benefits — housing benefits, council tax support, pension credit, attendance allowance, trying to maximise that person’s income.
“We tend to do home visits and telephone appointments.
“From June to the end of August we had 11 drop-ins and 100 home visits.
“But since the Winter Fuel announcement we have had 28 drop-ins and about 230 visits.
“We knew we were going to get an influx of people.
“We say to people, ‘You have got nothing to lose by having a pension check’.
“The older generation are quite proud and feel they don’t want to come cap in hand.
“But we tell them they have worked really hard, they deserve to have a little bit of extra help.”
Age UK’s research also shows that almost two thirds of older people who live alone are women, but the number of older men living alone is rising fast — by 66 per cent in the past 20 years.
Retired civil servant Tony Townsend, 92, attends for the facilities, food and the dancing — and whisks Angellica off for a waltz on the floor.
The keen ballroom dancer says: “Coming here, it makes sure I eat all my greens and you get to meet people.
“I’ve never married but I’m still on the lookout!”
The party has been a roaring success, says Sarah Goad, the branch’s chief executive officer.
She adds: “We are so thankful to Angellica and the team at The Sun for shining a light on what local charities like Age UK Merton are doing this Christmas to help reduce social isolation and to support older adults in this cost-of-living crisis.”
‘THEY NEED TO KNOW THEY AREN’T ALONE’
IT is her first Christmas as a married woman – and amid the madness of work and volunteering, Vicky Pattison is throwing her support behind The Sun’s SOS at Christmas campaign with Age UK.
The 37-year-old Geordie Shore star started volunteering for the charity during lockdown in 2020 and is still one of its biggest supporters.
So much so, she wants to help again over the festive season.
The I’m a Celebrity 2015 winner said: “Lots of older people just want to be surrounded by their family, their friends and loved ones at Christmas but not everyone has that opportunity.
“Loneliness at that age is so crippling.
“The thought that there are people facing the prospect of Christmas on their own and not feeling like they’ve got anyone to talk to or turn to is heartbreaking.
“These are people who worked their whole lives, who have raised their families. They don’t deserve to spend their twilight years like this.
“They need someone to talk to, they need to know they are not alone.”
Vicky, who married ex-Towie regular Ercan Ramadan, 31, in August, says her passion for helping and supporting the elderly generation is driven in part by her beloved grandparents David and Mavis Birdsey.
Having lost David, 92, to dementia in 2022 and Mavis in 2019, Vicky says the devoted pair who were married for 67 years instilled her sense of family values.
‘Very fortunate’
“Mavis and David were the backbone of our family.
“Some of my fondest memories are of them taking us to the beach in the summer – sandy sandwiches and swimming in the North Sea and cricket and candy floss in the theme park afterwards – it was just so lovely.
“Grandad was the life and soul of every party too.
“He just wanted everyone to have a good time. I probably get an awful lot from him.
“Grandma was strong, a real formidable woman but kind and generous. I’m very fortunate and I credit them for the upbringing they gave us.
“It was very stable.”
Vicky recalled how she got involved with Age UK initially to support those shielding from the pandemic.
She said: “I started an isolation care package project with the help of my local Age UK in Northumberland and Gateshead, navigating with them what people needed.
“It gave us a sense of purpose through lockdown as well.
“But I wouldn’t have been able to do it without the help of Age UK.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Donate
Give online at ageuk.org.uk/christmassos or scan the QR code
Or by phone: 0800 077 8751
(lines open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm)
Or by text:
To give £5, text: SOS5 to 70507
To give £10, text: SOS10 to 70507
VOLUNTEER!
Give the gift of your time by signing up as one of Age UK’s telephone friendship volunteers
Just 20 to 30 minutes a week to chat with an older person who might be in need of company
To find out more go to ageuk.org.uk/volunteer or scan the QR code
SHOP
Age UK has 250 shops across the country, great places to pick up Christmas presents and support the elderly.
See Age UK site for locations.