Starbucks Linthorpe Road

At Sowing Seeds we believe actions are more powerful than words. That’s why we don’t just tell people we want to help them, we put love into action and go the extra mile. The Discipleship centre here in the heart of Stockton town centre is going from strength to strength. We have regulars who pop in every day for a coffee and some company which is wonderful. We also have many people who come in seeking help of some kind. Our work is so diverse there is never a dull moment and we never know who we're going to meet next! We also run a gym within our building, helping people of all ages to channel their energy into something worthwhile. We've helped many people to turn their lives around and find a better path in life. Thank you for helping us to make Sowing Seeds such a success!

Being loved and cared for is important to all of us, whatever our age. But it’s especially true at Christmas – a time when the companionship and support of friends and family seems to mean even more and loneliness is more keenly felt. At Age UK Teesside, we believe no one should have no one. Not at Christmas. Not ever. Yet for 163,500 number of older people in the North, loneliness is a daily reality. And not just at Christmas, either. In the UK, 1.2 million older people are persistently lonely with the same number dealing or coping with extended periods of loneliness - sometimes lasting for years. Like me, I’m sure you agree we need to change that and ensure help is available for all those older people who find their lives adversely affected by loneliness or illness or poverty, whatever the time of year. Here in Age UK Teesside we’re working as hard as we can all year round to help older people face the different challenges that growing older brings, and with you help we can work to make sure no one in later life need be alone or isolated. Whether it’s through our befriending services or social groups, our information and advice around getting the financial support people need to make the most of their later years or just being somewhere to turn when things get too tough to cope with on your own, Age UK Teesside provides crucial companionship, advice and support to hundreds of people every year But we can’t do it without your help. Loneliness can be the cause of a decline in physical and mental health; it erodes self-esteem and dignity. So if, like me, you agree we need to change the lives of older people in Teesside for the better at Christmas, then find out how you can make a difference.