Thank You - Delivering Joy and our partnership with Dunelm

Our new local partnership with Dunelm, and incredible local support, helped us together Deliver Joy in York over Christmas

We recognise for too many that Christmas can be a time of loneliness rather than celebration, however, thanks to a new partnership and the spirit of York people, Age UK York were able to Deliver Joy as part of our daily support to local older people over the festive period. Literally trolleys worth!

The generosity of our supporters is so important, including organisations choosing to work with Age UK York in together being there to help some of the most vulnerable in our local communities across York. We are delighted to partner with Dunelm including as part of their annual festive initiative, Delivering Joy.

The wonderful idea is to help provide gifts to older people in need at Christmas and as part of Dunelm’s national campaign it has already delivered nearly a quarter of a million gifts over the last four years, and counting.

Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for older people who may be struggling financially or feeling isolated. We can though together do something about this here in York and this new partnership offers a way for the community to come together and provide thoughtful gifts that make a real difference.

Sarah Conroy from our team who helped organise and was the first to collect the incredible array of gifts to share out to local people gave a huge thanks to everyone who made it possible...

“We’re thrilled to have been part of the Delivering Joy initiative this year here in York. The simple act of giving a small gift can have such a powerful impact, particularly on older people who may be spending the festive season alone or facing financial hardship. hanks to Dunelm’s generosity, and their wonderful shoppers who dipped into their pockets to buy such thoughtful gifts, we can help spread a little joy to those who need it most.”

Steven Tyler, The York Store Manager at Dunelm, added: “the generosity of our customers and colleagues never ceases to amaze me. We are so proud to partner with local charities like Age UK York, whose vital work ensures that the most vulnerable people in our communities are not forgotten during the holidays.” Thanks to all those involved, the total number of gifts for this year's Delivering Joy was a whopping 1,131, nearly double last year. A huge thank you from us all at Age UK York for entrusted us with sharing the many gifts to local people and bringing a smile to so many people over the festive period.

Photo: Steven Tyler, Dunelm, and Simon Holmes from our Age UK York team. With just some of the trolleys of gifts so generosly given and bound for local older people in need across York.