A care home in Shirebrook is helping to tackle loneliness this Christmas by opening its doors to welcome isolated members of the community.

Richmond Care Home, on Recreation Road, is asking locals, and organisations supporting the town’s older people, to nominate individuals who may be facing the festive season alone, to join them for some free festive cheer.

“We know there will be many people who don’t have anyone to spend this special time with,” said home manager, Kate Birch.

“We would like to invite people to come into our home and have lunch with us on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or on New Year’s Day. These are all times when feelings of loneliness can be exacerbated.

“Our head chef, Teresa Scott, and her team make a fantastic Christmas roast, there’ll be mince pies and maybe a glass of something too!

“Good company and good food can do a lot for our wellbeing and who knows – it could also be the start of a lovely friendship for someone.”

Figures from Age UK suggest more than 230,000 older people will spend at least one day over the festive season alone and over-65 year olds in parts of Shirebrook are said by the charity to be at ‘high risk’ of loneliness.

Andrew Holland’s mum, Mavis, 92, has enjoyed Christmas at Richmond for the last two years.

“They make it a special day for her and all the residents here,” he said. “I go over to see her on Christmas Eve and she loves the carols and the singing. With the decorations up it all looks so homely. I think someone would have a lovely time spending the day here being looked after.”

Richmond, which provides residential and dementia care for up to 40 people, will be visited by Father Christmas and his helpers on the 25th December who’ll be handing out gifts. There will be traditional festive music, mince pies and the Queen’s Speech shown in the home’s lounge.

Home manager, Kate, was recently shortlisted is the ‘Dignity in Care’ category of the Great British Care Awards for the East Midlands, while community organiser Natasha Westwood was a finalist in the ‘Activities Manager’ category.

The home has a close relationship with the community, opening its community café once a week and welcoming school and nursery children in to spend time with the residents.

“As much as we would like to, we can’t welcome everyone who might benefit from some Christmas company, so we’d like to hear from people as soon as possible about a friend, neighbour or client we could welcome into our home,” said Kate.

To nominate someone for lunch at Richmond on Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day, contact the home on 01623 748474.