AN outdoor lounge will be coming to Worcester High Street on Friday, to give lonely older people the chance to get together and socialise.

The lounge will be available for people to sit back, relax and have a chat from 9am until 1pm.

It is run by Reconnections, whose team will be on hand to handle any referrals for help, and to sign up new volunteers.

Mayor Allah Ditta will be joining the team to chat around 10am.

Cllr Adrian Hardman, cabinet member with responsibility for adult social care at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Loneliness is an issue effecting many older people, and can impact health and reliance on other services.

"Services such as Reconnections can help reduce loneliness and offer a great opportunity for people of all ages to form new relationships.

“I would encourage people in Worcester to visit the Reconnections stand and learn more about how Reconnections can help.”

Sophie Pryce, Reconnections manager, said, “We've had over 3,000 people referred to Reconnections so far and are looking to help as many lonely older people as we can.

Call in to see us on Friday and we can explain how we help people to reconnect to other people, places and communities, so that they can get more out of life.”

35,000 older people in Worcestershire are likely to suffer from loneliness.

Reconnections covers the whole of Worcestershire and aims to reduce older people’s feelings of loneliness by reconnecting them with interests, sharing skills and activities in their local communities.

The Reconnections service is commissioned by Worcestershire County Council, with additional funding from the local NHS Trust and National Lottery Community Fund. It is provided by Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire and other local voluntary and community organisations.

If you would like to refer a lonely older person, or would like to volunteer, head along to the Outdoor Lounge, call 01905 740954 or visit reconnectionsservice.org.uk.