GIVING up time for others on Christmas Day can mean the world to those who might otherwise have faced the day alone.

African, Indian and Polish cuisine will feature alongside a traditional Christmas dinner for residents young and old in Blackbird Leys on the day.

Boxes packed with food and festive treats are also being delivered to older people around the estate and in Cowley who are too frail to make it to the event.

As part of its Lonely this Christmas campaign, the Oxford Mail is inviting local people and communities to hold Christmas lunches for people in later life who may not have someone of their own to share the day with.

Leys Community Development Initiative (CDI) project co-ordinator Marsha Jackson said: “It can be very lonely at Christmas if you don’t have anyone.

“We seem to forget that there are people out there who will spend it alone.

“The numbers are coming in for home deliveries and people are calling daily.

“To me, Christmas is about giving. Some people don’t have family or may have lost someone, and money could be really tight.

“If we can open our doors and say ‘come and spend it with people that really care’, that’s what it’s all about.”

About 80 people will spend Christmas morning playing board games at Blackbird Leys Community Centre with tea and coffee provided, before a four-course lunch.

Those who are housebound will be broughtChristmas dinner with a starter and pudding, as well as a goodie bag and a Christmas cracker.

Funding for the event has been provided by Greensquare and Catalyst housing associations as well as Oxford city councillors, including Lord Mayor Rae Humberstone.

Miss Jackson added: “On the day we will have about 30 volunteers. I’ll be in the kitchen cooking away.

“A group of us are working together. If you have a good team behind you, it’s not that hard at all.”

Every year thousands of older people across the UK suffer loneliness. In Oxfordshire alone 10,400 over-65s say they are often or always lonely, says charity Age UK. Many are bereaved or only have family elsewhere in the country, and can go for weeks on end without contact with another human being.

Anyone who would like to invite one or two older neighbours to join them on Christmas Day should get in touch with the Oxford Mail, or register on communitychristmas.com

HOW YOU CAN HELP
* Donate to the Lonely this Christmas appeal, which is aiming to raise £5,400 by Christmas to support Age UK Oxfordshire and its Phone Friends service. Text AUKO52 £3 to 70070 to give £3 or visit campaign.justgiving.com/charity/ageukoxfordshire/endloneliness to pledge an amount of your choice.

* Volunteer with Age UK Oxfordshire. Ten new recruits are being sought over Christmas. There is no set minimum age and Phone Friends can volunteer from just two hours per week. To find out more, email volunteering@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk. 

* If you’re organising a Christmas lunch for neighbours and older people who may not have anyone to share the day with, register it at communitychristmas.org.uk