21 December 2015

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is urging people in Scotland to check on elderly relatives, friends and neighbours over the festive period.

She made a visit to Age Scotland’s offices in Edinburgh where she met staff and volunteers who work on the Silver Line Scotland helpline for older people.

The free 24-hour helpline, delivered in partnership with The Silver Line, provides information, friendship and advice to older people every day, but can experience an increase in calls over Christmas.

82-year-old Richard told the First Minister about the sort of calls they deal with before she listened to some examples for herself.

@TheSilverLineUK volunteer Richard chats with @NicolaSturgeon about his role on the helpline. #befriending pic.twitter.com/wj1bwfbqfp

— Age Scotland (@agescotland) December 21, 2015

FM @NicolaSturgeon at @agescotland listening to calls as she asks us to remember older people this Christmas. pic.twitter.com/4xCOFYiR2Y

— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) December 21, 2015

The First Minister said the festive period was an important time to remember older people and check in on them whether they are our relatives, neighbours and friends.

“For many, it’s a period of joy and family celebration but for some it can be a time of loneliness.

“I would urge people in Scotland to have a think about the older people around them and check in on them over the festive period and beyond. It can be as simple as a having a quick cup of tea with an elderly neighbour, but to them it can make a huge difference.

“The Silver Line Scotland helpline provides a fantastic service throughout the year providing information about services and befriending, not just over Christmas, and we owe a huge thanks to the staff and volunteers who are that caring voice for many older people.”

The First Minister then joined staff and volunteers for a cup of tea to discuss their roles and experiences, before discussing their plans for Christmas.

Brian Sloan, Chief Executive of Age Scotland said:

“We’re delighted to welcome the First Minister to Age Scotland and show her the great work that we do to ensure that no one should have no one at Christmas. With 100,000 older Scots saying they feel lonely most or all of the time, it’s great that Nicola Sturgeon is helping to highlight how we can fight that loneliness with one call to Silver Line Scotland.”

Thank you @NicolaSturgeon for visiting @agescotland & @TheSilverLineUK today to discuss our work around lonelinesshttps://t.co/kBRNBI6ouj

— Age Scotland (@agescotland) December 21, 2015

For more information on Silver Line Scotland and Age Scotland, click here.