Loneliness at Christmas in Cheshire: Ways to Help

10 minutes ago

5 min read

Christmas is a few weeks away. For lots of us that’s exciting, the lights, the plans, the people we can’t wait to see.

But for some, it feels very different. Some people will spend this month watching Christmas happen through their window. Other people’s lights, other people’s laughter, and a quiet front room of their own.

This year, we wanted to shine a light on loneliness in Cheshire at Christmas, when it can feel loudest. Have you ever thought, “Is there another way I can help people at Christmas?” If so, you’re in the right place. Below, we explain what loneliness is, how it affects people in our communities, and a simple way to help lonely people in Cheshire this Christmas: buy someone a phone call.

What is loneliness? And how is it different from being alone?

Loneliness isn’t the same as being alone. Some people are surrounded by others and still feel lonely, and some people spend a quiet evening on their own and feel perfectly content. Loneliness is the feeling that the connection you want isn’t there.

It’s a hard emotion to explain and a hard one to live with, day after day. It can affect anyone, at any age, and it isn’t always easy to spot from the outside.

It’s also more common than many of us realise.

Why does loneliness feel worse at Christmas?

Christmas is the time of year we’re all expected to be together. So when you’re not, it can feel as if everyone else got an invitation that you missed.

Age UK’s polling for Christmas 2025 suggested that around 1.5 million older people would be eating dinner alone on Christmas Day. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-press/articles/age-uk-issues-urgent-call-to-end-loneliness-crisis/

Behind every number is a person: someone with a story, a sense of humour, and a lot they’d love to talk about, if only someone rang.

Loneliness in Cheshire: who can be affected?

Loneliness in Cheshire is often hidden. It can affect older people living alone in rural villages, people who have lost a partner, people who have recently moved, carers, and anyone whose usual routines and contact have fallen away. Every person that uses our service has a different story. You can hear more about their stories on our Tree of Calls section on our website https://www.changing-lives-together.org.uk/buddy-and-befriending

How can you help someone who is lonely at Christmas?

Loneliness can’t be fixed with one gesture, but it can ease with something very small. Someone remembering you. Someone knocking at the door. Someone saying, “I was thinking about you.”

For many people, a friendly phone call is where it starts. It says: you matter, you haven’t been forgotten, and you’re still part of your community.

Befriending in Cheshire: what our Buddy & Befriending team does

Our Buddy & Befriending team is a befriending service that makes friendly phone calls to people across Cheshire who might otherwise go days without speaking to anyone.

There’s no agenda. Just a chat, a cup of tea, a bit of gossip about the weather and the neighbours, and a voice on the other end that’s glad it’s you.

Ways to help lonely people at Christmas: buy someone a phone call

Every Christmas, most of us buy a few things without thinking. Another tub of chocolates. Another round of Christmas cards. Another bottle on the shelf. And if we’re honest, it can feel the same every year, and we wonder if there’s something else we could do.

This year, we’re asking if you’d like to do something a little different. Instead of another box of chocolates, buy someone a phone call: a simple, meaningful Christmas gift that helps tackle loneliness in Cheshire.

£5, about the price of a tub of chocolates, can fund a phone call for someone to look forward to.
£12, about the price of a bath gift set, can fund two.
£22, about the price of a bottle of Baileys, can mean four people no longer facing Christmas alone.

The chocolates will be eaten and forgotten. The conversation won’t. They’ll forget the shortbread, but they won’t forget how you made them feel.

You might think, “A couple of quid isn’t really going to help someone that much, will it?” It truly will with us.

Meet the Tree of Calls: stories from our befriending service

On our website, you’ll find our Tree of Calls. Every tag on the tree is a story: someone our Buddy & Befriending team supports here in Cheshire. https://www.changing-lives-together.org.uk/buddy-and-befriending Click through, meet them, and see what a friendly phone call can mean. This is what you’re helping us do when you fund a call.

How can I help lonely people in Cheshire this Christmas?

Buy a phone call. Donate through our JustGiving page: https://justgiving.com/campaign/buddyandbefriendingchristmas
Share this post. Every share reaches someone new, and costs nothing.
Bring it to your workplace, club or group. Instead of client or staff chocolates, you could put the cost towards a call. We’re happy to send a card or a poster.
Ring someone yourself. Think of one person who’d love to hear from you this Christmas, and give them a call.

Frequently asked questions about loneliness at Christmas

How can I help someone who is lonely at Christmas?

Small things make a real difference. You can ring them, call round, invite them for a meal or a cup of tea, send a card with a personal note, or ask a befriending service like ours to arrange regular friendly calls. Even a short chat can help someone feel remembered.

Is there another way I can help people at Christmas besides buying gifts?

Yes. You can fund a befriending call, share our campaign, check in on a neighbour, or invite someone who would otherwise be on their own. Our campaign asks you to put the price of a box of chocolates or a card towards a phone call.

How can I help lonely people in Cheshire?

You can donate to our Buddy & Befriending Christmas campaign, share it with friends, family and your workplace, and look out for neighbours who may be on their own. Just simply give us a call, email or contact us through our website Phone: 07919327131 Email: befriending@changing-lives-together.org.uk

What is befriending?

Befriending is when someone offers regular friendship and company to another person, for example through friendly phone calls. Here at The Buddy and Befriending scheme, we support adults across Cheshire who are experiencing loneliness or social isolation. We believe in one of the most effective and simple solutions - giving people the opportunity to connect and talk.

We run weekly warm welcome groups around Cheshire, and we also run a telephone befriending service.

Does a phone call really help with loneliness?

A friendly conversation doesn’t solve everything, but regular contact can help people feel seen, remembered and part of their community.

Thank you

Any support is really appreciated. The price of a card, a box of chocolates, it all adds up to supporting people in our community.

If you’ve already donated or shared our campaign, thank you. You’re helping make sure more people hear a friendly voice this Christmas.