Fantastic Silver Sunday celebration for Chelford

Elderly Chelford residents enjoyed a Silver Sunday afternoon, aimed at bringing the community together, when they attended the special afternoon tea organised by Chelford Together, a voluntary organisation which seeks to reduce social isolation and loneliness, particularly in older people.

Silver Sunday was launched in 2012 by The Sir Simon Milton Foundation and Westminster City councillor Christabel Flight following a report that highlighted more than a third of people over 75 were lonely.

The aim of Silver Sunday is recognise older residents’ contributions to their communities and help them get out and about to meet new people.

In it’s inaugural year more than 2,000 people took part in 19 events across Westminster alone. The following year the success in Westminster encouraged others to get involved, and saw 150 events being held across the country.

Every year since has seen an increase, and in 2018 there were 1,000 events attended by 50,000 older people participating in walking football, art classes, tea parties, dances, tai chi, boat rides and cultural experiences.

The Chelford Silver Sunday afternoon tea, held in Chelford Community Hub, was organised by volunteers who also helped make sandwiches, cakes, trifles and serve the meal to 35 guests

Nigel Jehan, chairman of Chelford Community Hub, said: “This is exactly what our great community facility is about, bringing people together and creating a caring, compassionate and vibrant community. It was a pleasure to see so many smiling faces.”

Shirley Marshall, 84, who lives in Chelford, said: “It was a fantastic afternoon of people getting together, to chat, have fun and enjoy good food. The Hub is a lifeline to many here, and gets people out of their homes. It certainly makes a difference to my life.”

Plans are already underway for Silver Sunday 2020, hopefully with a larger event, or a series of events throughout Chelford.

David Kent, secretary of Chelford Together, said: “We are always looking for volunteers to help us, and in particular are looking for young people to help us with our aims.”

For further information on Chelford Together or Chelford Community Hub contact David at mikeanddavid31@gmail.com or call 01625 861038.