While most people in Southwark celebrated Christmas with their families at home, festive volunteers made sure that the borough’s elderly and vulnerable people enjoyed the big day too.
Hundreds of people enjoyed a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings at the Southwark People Care event in Bacon’s College, Rotherhithe, and the Bermondsey Care for the Elderly event in Guy’s Tower, Borough.
Neil Coyle, MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, volunteered at both events on Christmas Day, helping to serve people food and spread some festive cheer.
He said: “It’s something I enjoy doing. It’s not just for elderly people but for people with mental health problems too. It is for people who would otherwise be at home alone, or for couples who can’t cook for themselves.”
The Bermondsey Care for the Elderly event has been running for 39 years – “longer than I’ve been alive!” as Mr Coyle pointed out – and will be celebrating its 40th anniversary next year.
Southwark People Care at Christmas, the parent group for Southwark People Care, has been running events for over four decades.
Chair Danny Walters said: “This year’s event was again a great success. So many isolated Southwark residents were able to get out, meet others and see old friends and have a really good time.”