Last year, while most people on the Isle of Wight were tucking into their turkey surrounded by family and friends, half a million older people across the UK were eating their Christmas dinner alone.

The so called festive season is far from merry for many of the UK’s pensioners, nearly one and a half million said that they did not look forward to Christmas because they feel lonely at this time of year.  As a result Help the Aged have issued their ‘1 is the saddest number’ Christmas appeal.

This sad finding comes from an ICM research survey of 1,000 over-65s conducted for Help the Aged in October 2007. The research also found that a further 700,000 older people did not even have a Christmas meal last year.

Help the Aged is hoping to reach out to 25,000 older people across the UK by providing them each with a Christmas meal to enjoy with friends at their local day centre over the festive period.

Providing a Christmas meal is a way to bring people together. Although it is for one day only, the benefits are much longer lasting for those who take part.

1 million older people are facing Christmas day on their own. By buying a bauble to decorate a virtual tree you can help to end their misery.

You can create your own design and add a special message for a loved one or friend. spread some Christmas cheer and help, we reduce the number of older people who experience loneliness and isolation.

A donation of just £4 will enable Help the Aged to supply a Christmas meal for an older person and make their Christmas a day to remember. To donate please visit Click HERE: or call 0207 239 1983.

Isle of Wight Community News @Island Pulse.