Supporting Age Cymru

Help us tackle social isolation and loneliness this Christmas time.

Pugh’s Garden Villages are supporting Age Cymru’s Friend-in-Need service during the run up to Christmas.

We are thrilled to be partnering with Age Cymru this year to help combat loneliness and social isolation for older people through our ‘Don’t Bear Christmas Alone’ campaign and we are asking our customers to help us to raise vital funds for the charity’s telephone friendship service called Friend-in-Need.    

Friend-in-Need is a telephone friendship service designed specifically by Age Cymru to support older people who feel alone, lonely and are isolated. Each week one of their trained volunteers calls an older person who is feeling lonely. The older person is called at the same time each week, and is engaged in conversation, providing company and a friendly voice.

Here is how it has impacted some of the people who receive this service:

 “I sit most days looking out of the window, watching people walk by. Family do their best but loneliness is a horrible thing, and being predominantly housebound, the days are so long. However, every week, on a Wednesday, I keep an eye on the clock as I get a phone call from my Friend in Need at Age Cymru. It puts a big smile on my face. We chat for about 25 mins, and its lovely to know that somebody thinks and cares enough about me to check in on me weekly.”

 “Befriending has been a brilliant experience for me over this last year. It has given us both a routine during the week, sometimes we speak for a long time and other times it’s just hello, but its consistency and friendship that has developed during this difficult time that I’m most grateful for."

How can you get involved? As part of this campaign, we have launched a brand new 2024 Pugh Bear teddy bear and we have written an accompanying story book titled 'The Bear in the Window' and we will be donating all profits from both to Age Cymru's Friend in Need Telephone Befriending Service.

To help provide friendship and support for lonely older people in our local communities this Christmas and raise vital funds for the Friend In Need Service, simply purchase our Pugh Bear and 'The Bear in the Window' Book from your local Pugh's Garden Centre in either Cardiff or Vale of Glamorgan or order online here.

Pugh Bear - £15.99 including 2024 jumper

The Bear in the Window Book - £8.99

Nadolig Llawen jumper - £3.99

For more information about the fundraising activities or Age Cymru’s Friend-in-Need service contact Amanda O’Shea on 029 2043 1555, email amanda.oshea@agecymru.org.uk, or visit www.agecymru.org.uk/friend.