A NEW project has been unveiled to help isolated elderly people and relieve loneliness.

Bournemouth town centre police officer Joel Brooks has teamed up with Claire Matthews, founder of Hope for Food, to set-up the new venture, Hope for the Elderly.

They are planning to put on meals and entertainment in a bid to combat loneliness among elderly people

Joel has been working alongside Claire in the town centre for a few years helping to support the homeless, but now the pair want to help the lonely, isolated elderly that probably have little or no human contact.

Joel said: “I have been working with Claire in helping the homeless at various stages, however another vulnerable group that are invisible are the elderly.

“There are scores of elderly neighbours that often go for weeks without engaging with anyone.

“We are hoping that with the help of the public and neighbours referring these people to us, we can begin the process of engagement.

“We are hoping to secure funding to provide a venue that will enable these elderly local residents to enjoy a good meal and some entertainment and interaction with others.

“Our aim is to have volunteers collect them and return them to their homes afterwards.

“Once we begin the process of engaging with them, we can hopefully prevent them becoming isolated and lonely.”

He added: “People of an older generation are often too proud to ask for help or to recognise some of the symptoms they may be experiencing are indeed due to loneliness.

“It’s horrible to think of people who may not have seen or spoken to anyone else for weeks, so we’re asking people to help us out. It means such a lot to people.”

If you are a local business, and would like to help Joel and Claire with this new venture by offering help with a venue or food, or possibly entertainment, they will be delighted to hear from you.

Email joel.brooks@dorset.pnn.police.uk or clairematthews@hopeforfood.org.uk.

Anyone wishing to donate visit hopeforfood.org.uk for the bank details, using the reference Hope for the Elderly.

Claire and Joel are hoping to put on the first Hope for Elderly meal in February 2019 and aim to make it a regular event throughout the year.

According to the Campaign to End Loneliness, the problem is far bigger than simply an emotional experience.

They say loneliness and social isolation are harmful to people’s health with a lack of connection with other people a comparable risk factor for early death.

This is in comparison to smoking 15 cigarettes a day, and is worse than well-known risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity.

And according to a survey from Age UK, there are 1.2million chronically lonely people in the UK, with half a million older people going at least five or six days a week without seeing or speaking to anyone. They also say two fifths of older people say the TV is their main company.