The business of being a friend

Tracey Allen, managing director at SEA PR Consultancy would like to engage the business community with older people this Christmas. Here she talks about the business of being a friend as 2 in 3 people in Brighton & Hove want to do more to help older people at Christmas time but don’t know how

National charity Friends of the Elderly (FotE) is today calling on business leaders in Brighton and Hove to encourage their staff to Be a Friend this Christmas and reach out to the half a million older people (across the UK) who will spend Christmas alone this year. FotE hopes to inspire workers across the city to get into the spirit of Christmas and Be a Friend throughout the festive season and all year round.

The call to action follows FotE’s recent survey, which shows that locally 74% feel they could do more to support older people at this time of year, but 32% don’t know how to go about helping. That’s why FotE is offering practical tips on what to do. So throughout December, Friends of the Elderly want business leaders to help inform and raise awareness to their staff to help end the critical issue of loneliness in older people. Just by considering what they could do and making a promise via the website they can start to make the culture change.

Friends of the Elderly have come up with some examples of simple things that the work force can do to help reduce loneliness at Christmas. 

Only a few minutes to spare; why not;

• Sign up to be one of our telephone befrienders, 
• Get in touch with us and we can help you find a local project that you can get involved with. 

Have a bit more time as a business?

• Hold regular fundraisers that help change a lonely older persons life; talk to us about workplace coffee mornings and cake bakes, marathon places or something more specific to your organisation. 

If you feel your business can have a more lasting impact we can;

• Offer training that helps your staff understand the needs of older people, or offer advice about better serving this important, yet often overlooked, ‎part of your customer base.

And something we can all do whether off to the pantomime, ice skating at the Royal Pavilion, Burning the Clocks parade or the Boxing Day football match, is to invite an older neighbour to join you and your family.

And finally - as a business we ask that you ask your teams to promise to Be a Friend this Christmas by going to www.beafriendtoday.org.uk and making your promises.

Small things, big difference

If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk