Festivities at Our Christmas Chatty Brew Event

On 10^th December, The Minster Church in Newport was filled with festive spirit as we hosted our Christmas Chatty Brew. The event saw a fantastic turnout, bringing together individuals eager to celebrate. 

Guests enjoyed live Christmas music, creating a warm atmosphere filled with chatter. Maria Bunce, Chief Officer at Age UK Isle of Wight, commented, “It was a heartening event, lots of smiles and laughter, and a great way to end the year. Seeing sessions like this really does reinforce the work we do and the differences we make to our Island elders.”

Thanks to the generous donation of 100 mince pies from Ryde School and Upper Chine, we were able to offer a small treat to everyone in attendance, ensuring that each guest left with a special Christmas gift.

Our Chatty Brews are a vital extension of our Good Neighbour Scheme (GNS), which supports older individuals who may be feeling isolated or lonely. On average, our GNS assists 174 people each month on the Isle of Wight, and events like Chatty Brews enable us to reach even more members of our community. On average, we see 40 individuals at each event with these being made up of a mixture of GNS clients, public and volunteers.

We recognise that many Islanders may go days or even weeks without meaningful interaction. Our events and the GNS are designed to combat loneliness, as even small moments of connection can be transformative for those we serve. These services are made possible through the generosity of donations.

Additionally, we would like to extend our gratitude to an anonymous sponsor whose support helped us to enhance the Chatty Brew event, making it even more special for our attendees.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating, and for your continued support of our mission to connect and uplift the older individuals in our community.