Since 2014, staff at Southport Fire and Ambulance Station have been giving up their Christmas day to help provide lonely and isolated OAP's in the local area with a Christmas lunch.

Each Christmas, since 2014, we have managed to provide approximately 40 lonely elderly people with free transport to and from our station, free entertainment, a couple of games of prize bingo, a four course traditional Christmas Day lunch, a visit from Santa and a gift.

The meal is held at Southport Fire and Ambulance Station, Albert Road, Southport. Our station has wonderful Community rooms which overlook the famous shopping boulevard, Lord Street. This is where our guests have their meal. The meal is prepared and served by 999 staff, their families and some outside volunteers.

Our guests are OAP's from the local area, who for various reasons, have no-one to spend Christmas day with......and there are more people in this situation than you would think! Some of our guests can go days without seeing or talking to another person. No-one should be alone on such a special day. Please help us to continue to hold these Christmas parties for our elderly residents.

Any donation, no matter how small would be very much appreciated.

Our OAP Christmas meals have received recognition from North West Ambulance Service, Sefton Council and more recently, nationally, as a result of being selected as finalists for the 2017 Amplifon awards in London.

Further information can be obtained from sara.smith@nwas.nhs.uk

Thank you and best wishes.