A SOMERSET charity working to combat loneliness is one of three in the county shortlisted for a £16,000 cash giveaway.

Our parent company's charitable arm, the Gannett Foundation, is providing £128,000 in cash to support local charities across the country. 

We have a £16,000 share to give away in the Wales and West region to charities nominated by our readers and shortlisted by our editorial team.

Our readers have the final say of how the money will be allocated by filling in voting tokens that can be found in the Chard and Ilminster News and its associated titles.

Age UK Somerset, which is based in Taunton but operates across the county, is fighting loneliness with a range of services and activities.

These include holding exercise classes, offering advice, running a Walk and Talk service and organising a volunteer-supported Befriending service.

Phil Dolan, Chief Executive at Age UK Somerset said: “There is far more awareness now of the problem of loneliness especially at this time of year.

“However, research shows, sadly, that some older people are still being left out in the cold and have no one at all to turn to.

“If you could please support us, we can be there for those who are almost always on their own. No one should have to live like that in old age.”

Chard & Ilminster News: Volunteer Susan with Jean and Digby the dog.Volunteer Susan with Jean and Digby the dog. (Image: Age UK Somerset)

The charity says that more than 33,500 people in Somerset aged 65 or older live on their own. Loneliness and isolation can be harmful to people's health.

Lack of social connections can increase the likelihood of early death by 26 per cent, which is comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Many older people in Somerset can go a month without talking to anyone and rely on their pets and television for the feeling of having company. The situation has worsened since the pandemic.

The charity provides company for older people across Somerset with its Befriending service by matching them with a volunteer for a weekly visit. 

Although volunteers share their time for free, there are costs in managing the service, making sure the volunteers are vetted and supported, and covering travel expenses. Each visit costs around £10.

Voting tokens can be found in our newspapers and sent to our office (Chard and Ilminster News, Tangier 2, Tangier Central, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 4AS).

They can also be put into collection boxes at Age UK Somerset's three charity shops. 

They can be found at 3a Bridge Street, Taunton; 3a Fore Street, Chard, and 2 The Parade, Minehead.

The deadline for submitting voting tokens is Sunday, November 20.