This Christmas, we're encouraging everyone to 'give something back'.

2020 hasn't been the year we expected. Yet it's been truly heart-warming to see friendships thriving and strengthening between our volunteers and VIPs (over 60s), just when they've been needed the most.

This year has brought unforeseen challenges; difficulties in seeing friends and family, spending more time at home, not even popping out for a cuppa and a chat. That's all on top of the pre-existing loneliness picture in the UK: according to Age UK, there are over 1.4 million lonely older people in the UK and, sadly, Edinburgh is the loneliest city in the UK.

So we're especially determined to build EVEN MORE real friendships with lonely over 60s in Edinburgh as we head into 2021.

And you can help!

Inspired by the GiveBack2020 initiative, we've come up with 3 KEY WAYS you can give back this Christmas and join the #VVKindnessClub:

1) DONATE - be a superstar and help us raise £2,021 for 2021!

2) SPREAD KINDNESS - give back to those around you through simple acts of kindness . Check out our ideas on our website.

3) GET INVOLVED - from Dress Yellow Days, to Virtual Vintage Tea Parties, to donating your Secret Santa money, have some fun, raise awareness, and get fundraising! Check out our ideas on our website.

Our act of kindness this Christmas is giving every one of our VIPs a very special Vintage Vibes Warm Winter Wishes advent calendar... filled with 24 days of joyous messages and chocolate to brighten their days. And donations like yours will help us to continue spreading joy to lonely over 60s in Edinburgh.

A big thank you to Deans Properties who sponsored our advent calendar project, to our volunteer Luisa for the fantastic design, and to Simon Williams Photography for the Christmassy photos.

One final thing... we would LOVE you to share what you are doing with us on social media using the hashtag #VVKindnessClub.

THANK YOU, SUPERHEROES!

___

Want to know more about Vintage Vibes and our campaign? Head over to our website vintagevibes.org.uk

Vintage Vibes is a charity project created in partnership between registered charities LifeCare Edinburgh and Space & Broomhouse hub, both doing great work for Edinburgh's older people. This campaign is set-up under LifeCare, as a registered charity; every donation to the #VVKindnessClub campaign will be allocated directly to the Vintage Vibes project.