Christmas came early for some local residents when the charity Ilkley and District Good Neighbours delivered 150 gift bags to its elderly clients with the help of students from Ilkley Grammar School and other local organisations.
The charity’s annual gift giving event has always brought a touch of seasonal good cheer to a number of people in the community who might feel particularly lonely at this time of the year.
“Christmas can be a challenging time for our older residents,”
said Chairman Ed Duguid.
"We normally do a number of things around now to add to our regular services we provide such as Befriending, help with shopping, our popular Friendship Groups, as well as our new Dementia Hub and Café. In particular we try to take the opportunity to bring together the students from IGS and our clients so they can enjoy each other’s company, while at the same time passing on our small gifts and Christmas greetings.”
This year the charity invited the IGS students to join its Friendship Groups at the Clarke Foley Community Hub where they helped with serving afternoon tea and joined in a Christmas Quiz as well as distributing gift bags.
The presence of the students was appreciated by the clients. One said: “It was wonderful to have them at the party and to find out what they were hoping to do in the future.”
As well as holding the Clarke Foley event, gifts were also delivered to some clients in their homes , where students spent time talking with them and exchanging stories of their different lives.
One of the volunteer drivers who ferried the students around said:
“It was a brilliant morning enjoyed by all. The people we visited were very appreciative of the lovely gifts and were delighted to spend time chatting with the students. Everyone was very welcoming and we could have stayed much longer, talking with the residents about Christmas, life experiences and times past.
“The students were terrific, and were excellent ambassadors for Ilkley Grammar School.”
The charity seeks to alleviate loneliness and isolation through its various activities, and the delivery of Christmas gifts is something that older residents have looked forward to since it first began 25 years ago.
“We also run some Christmas lunches and visits to the pantomime, and are indebted to local organisations who support us in order to do this”
said Ed.
“In particular we would like to thank the Ilkley Roundtable who have provided the funding, the Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale who provided some of the drivers along with other Good Neighbours volunteers, Tesco who helped provide some of the gifts, and the Olicana Masonic Lodge who allow us to use their hall for packing and distribution. And not forgetting the staff and trustees of Ilkley Good Neighbours who have all chipped in to help this year”
For further information on the charity, or on volunteering or donations, you can contact Good Neighbours at 01943 609 906 or email: team@goodneighboursilkley.org.uk
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