A SOMERSET charity working to combat loneliness has been awarded £1,767.02 in our Readers' Choice Cash for Charities campaign. 

Age UK Somerset was one of 10 charities in Wales and the west of England nominated by our readers for a share of a £16,000 cash giveaway in August. 

Each charity's share of the cash prize was decided by a vote using tokens available in our newspapers in November.

The local branch of Age UK, which is based in Taunton and operates across the county, will use its share of the money to fund its volunteer-led services.

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: “With 2022 being a challenging year this Cash For Charities award could not have come at a better time. 

“Thank you for everyone who supported us. We will use this meaningful amount of money to help make 2023 a happier and healthier new year for older people across Somerset.”

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

Some residents rely on their pets or television shows for the feeling of having company – a situation that has worsened since the start of the Covid pandemic.

Age UK Somerset provides company for older people across the county with its Befriending service by matching them with a volunteer for a weekly visit. 

Volunteers share their time for free, but there are costs including making sure volunteers are vetted and covering their travel costs.

Three Somerset charities benefitted from the Cash for Charities campaign in 2022: Age UK, Ferne Animal Sanctuary (Wambrook) and Escape Support Group (Creech St Michael).

In total, £128,000 was provided by Newsquest's parent company's charitable arm, The Gannett Foundation, to support local charities across the UK.