Dame Esther Rantzen will be visiting Carmarthenshire later this month to promote The Silver Line a free, confidential, 24 hour helpline for older people.
Dame Esther is a guest speaker at the county’s free 50+ Forum Annual Event at the National Botanic Garden in Llanarthne on Friday September 25 from 10am-4pm.
In August 2011, the founder of children’s helpline ChildLine in 1986, wrote an article about the loneliness she has experienced since being bereaved, and living alone. The response led to the setting up of The Silver Line in late 2013 with a £5m Big Lottery Fund grant.
The Silver Line Helpline provides advice and information including signposting callers to other charities and local services around the UK and also a friendship service. This includes a weekly telephone chat with a matched volunteer Silver Line Friend, Silver Letters and Silver Circles- a group conference style call on a topic of mutual interest.
Since national launch in November 2013, The Silver Line has taken over 550,000 calls. Over 1200 volunteer Silver Line Friends are making regular weekly friendship calls to older people.
The other speakers at the 50+ Forum event are Welsh Government Health Minister Mark Drakeford, Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for social care and health Cllr Jane Tremlett, executive board member for housing Linda Evans, and 50+ Forum Chairman Caroline Streek.
There will be information stalls from over 40 organisations, a wide range of taster sessions including arts & crafts, ballroom dancing, cookery, iPads; reflexology and botanical bingo, as well as guided walking tours giving an opportunity to learn about
botany, health and exercise.
Admission is free for 50+ members upon presentation of a membership card.
People aged 50+ can join the Forum for free on the day or contact 01267 224692.
The council’s 50+ Champion Cllr Jane Tremlett said: “The 50+ Annual Event provides a great opportunity for older people in Carmarthenshire to see what is available and to try out some of the activities.
“They can also find out more about what The Silver Line has to offer from Dame Esther Rantzen.”
50+ Chairman Caroline Streek said: “We are delighted to have Dame Esther Rantzen as one of our speakers as there are many older people in Carmarthenshire who could benefit from the services offered by The Silver Line.”
The Silver Line is on 0800 4 70 80 90. www.thesilverline.org.uk
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