IN January the first Hereford tea party through the charity Contact the Elderly was launched.

Contact the Elderly’s monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties are a lifeline of friendship for lonely people over 75.

The tea parties are made possible by volunteers, some of whom host the parties and some of whom drive the elderly to an from each event.

At the moment organisers have four voluntary drivers and six elderly guests.

They also have voluntary hosts who provide afternoon tea at their home for the guests and their drivers. It has been very successful and organisers have been overwhelmed with the generosity of the hosts and their families who take time to bake cakes and go to so much effort.

Guests say that Sunday afternoons can be such a lonely time, so to get out and meet people and have a good laugh and catch up is something to really look forward to.

However, organisers are always looking for more volunteer drivers or reserve drivers, hosts and guests.

On May 14 they are holding a tea party at St Barnabas Church Centre, no one person is hosting this time as most of our volunteer hosts have been invited and are bringing a plate. There is also a local band called the Wellington Heath Singers who will hopefully play from 3pm - 3.30pm.

This will be a good opportunity for everyone to meet each other.

If you would like to volunteer please call Contact the Elderly on freephone 0800 716543.