A KIDDERMINSTER service aimed at ending loneliness amongst older people said it has seen an influx of referrals in the past few months.

Reconnections are now running activities on extra days to cope with demand and have taken on three new volunteer drivers for the minibus to pick people up from their homes to take them to the Simply Limitless Activity and Wellbeing Centre in Puxton Lane.

The aim of the service is to help beat loneliness by encouraging people to make new friends, try activities they haven’t tried before and change their lives.

Reconnections held an ‘outdoor lounge’ at Kidderminster market in August to highlight what their service offers, which resulted in the surge in referrals.

A spokesman for Reconnections said: “We’ve had a real influx of referrals since the outdoor lounge at the market, with some people even returning to the same spot hoping to find us the next week.

“We’re currently getting about 75 referrals a month – which is both very sad, and very encouraging about the value of what’s on offer.”

An 82-year-old service user, who wished to be referred to as just Sybil, has recently started attending the Simply Limitless Wellbeing Centre on a Tuesday and Thursday.

She said: “It’s made a difference to my life, because it’s got me out. I never went out before. It’s about making new friends, and talking to people. I enjoy it.

“All I did was sit at home, watching telly, with my cats. I lost my husband last year, and nursed him for six months when he was in a home.

“I used to go and see him, so that got me out – when I lost Ron that was it. I never went anywhere. My son comes to fetch me, sometimes, and my daughter, sometimes, but they’ve got their own lives to lead, they don’t want an old woman knocking around.”

Reconnections say that there are many more people like Sybil, across Kidderminster, who don’t know about their service.

Anyone interested in finding out more can call 01905 740954, or visit their website at www.reconnectionsservice.org.uk