Throughout the Care Heroes campaign, we have helped to shine a light on those that do all they can to care for others.

Caring for others can be as simple as collecting shopping or doing laundry but even more importantly at the moment, it can also be just being there to lend an ear or being a constant presence in someone’s life, can be caring too.

Loneliness affects more than 1 million older people nationally and around 35,000 in Worcestershire.

Christmas for many is the most wonderful time of the year, but this isn’t the case for everyone.

This year, Coronavirus restrictions have only heightened what for many can be an incredibly lonely time.

Many people may find themselves on their own for the first time this year after the loss of a loved one or they may have families who do not live nearby.

Winter can be a difficult time for people who may have reduced mobility or are socially isolated.

Many elderly people in our community will have an increased risk of illness.

Despite the current Coronavirus restrictions, there are still ways to help friends, neighbours or family even if you can’t pop in and have a cup of tea as you normally would.

Knowing how to help isn't always easy, but there are a few ways to offer your support.

You can also make a difference yourself, a friendly hello and chat can still go a long way.

You may not be able to pop round for a chat, but you can chat via videocall or online, or talk from a safe social distance. Outside in the garden is the new lounge!

You can still keep an eye out for winter illness – with temperatures lowering, the risk of illnesses in older people rises.

If a friend or neighbour shows signs of being unwell, ask if there is a relative or someone in their support bubble you could call or offer to call their doctor.

A new service was launched in April of this year to help combat loneliness in Worcestershire. People Like Us [PLUS] has been designed to tackle loneliness and isolation by creating connections between Worcestershire people and their communities.

People Like Us [PLUS] have worked creatively and innovatively adapt the service to meet the current challenges posed by the COVID 19 situation. As a charity they are going above and beyond to ensure clients get the best possible support and even, where possible, still meet face to face.

Where it’s not suitable to meet, the team provide telephone support and also make use of other virtual technology to keep in touch with people who are lonely and those socially isolated as a result of social distancing and shielding measures. The ‘Together’ and ‘Techtober’ campaigns have brought exciting innovations such as online support groups, virtual coffee mornings, cooking demos and even virtual tours via the PLUS facebook groups. They continue to build connections with local families and businesses who have been a real inspiration in helping support all of Onside clients by offering time, tech support and even Christmas dinners!

Kate Harvey, CEO of Onside, says: “We are proud to be delivering this exciting service tackling loneliness across all age groups and to be working closely with our delivery and support partners across the county. Whilst these have been particularly challenging times to be launching a new service, issues of loneliness and isolation and the critical value of connections has probably never been so evident or well understood. We are completely committed to making a difference to people experiencing loneliness and isolation across Worcestershire. Social distancing should not mean losing social connection.”

Strategic Director of People, Paula Furnival said: “Tackling loneliness is something that has been extremely important to us for a number of years now, and it’s fantastic that Onside Advocacy are building on the work of our Reconnections service. Loneliness is not just about those who are older or live alone, many people can feel lonely or isolated.

Helping people maintain that connection and doing all we can to help people who are experiencing loneliness and isolation, and putting people at the heart of what we do is a big part of our plans moving forward. I know that the pandemic has changed the way we can keep an eye on our neighbours and be there for our communities, but I would urge people to do what you can to be there for someone who is on their own this Christmas, even if it’s telling them you’re only a call away.”

People Like Us is delivered by Onside and their delivery partners; Worcester Community Trust and Simply Limitless, whilst also being widely supported by a range of other local partner organisations. Building on the fantastic work of Reconnections, the new service has been expanded to be available to people of all adult ages who may feel alone or isolated. Working with a team of trained local volunteers the PLUS service provides people with one to one support to build confidence, develop social connections and become more active and engaged in their communities.

Worcestershire County Council has supported the Worcestershire Care Heroes award, for which readers of the Worcester News, Malvern Gazette and Evesham Journal were asked to nominate carers who have been an inspiration in the pandemic.

Today, on the front page, we revealed the winner, Amelia Trivett, a 25-year-old mum expecting her second child early next year, who has visited terminally ill patients during the Covid pandemic.