A CHARITY is appealing for more volunteers to help older people combat loneliness during the festive period.

The Silver Line, a 24/7 helpline for older people, is getting set for its phones to be buzzing over the Christmas and New Year period.

The free, confidential helpline offers friendship and advice 365 days a year but is in desperate need of more volunteers from the Darlington area to man the phone lines and help older people combat isolation

Based on the experience of previous festive seasons, The Silver Line expects to handle more than twice the number of calls over the days around Christmas than on average days for the rest of the year.

The Silver Line Helpline received more than 500 calls in November this year from people in the Darlington area, compared to the 270 calls received from the same area in November 2014.

Dame Esther Rantzen DBE, founder of The Silver Line, said: "Like many of our Silver Line callers, I know what loneliness feels like - and Christmas is especially difficult if you are on your own.

"When my late husband Desmond Wilcox died, I tried to make our family Christmas as joyous as it had always been, but it was impossible.

"In the words of one of our callers, Christmas Day became ‘just another day I had to get through’. We can make this Christmas happier and the start of a much happier New Year."

Sophie Andrews, CEO of The Silver Line, added: "On Christmas Day, many older people will be getting a call from their Silver Line Friend and for the vast majority that will be the only person they speak to that day.

"But we also know there are thousands, even millions more that we haven’t yet reached. That’s why we are asking more people across the North-East to help and volunteer their time – either as a ‘Silver Line Friend’ to chat with an isolated older person, or to support our work through donations or festive fund raising, or spread the word so more people hear about our helpline.”

Running the helpline, training and the cost of all calls are paid for by donations. For example £5 covers the cost of each call that The Silver Line receives, and £50 can recruit and train a volunteer.

For more information visit www.thesilverline.org.uk. The Silver Line Helpline is 0800 4708090.