A CHARITY supporting isolated, lonely and vulnerable elderly people is appealing for donations to help fund a dream trip to the seaside.

Contact The Elderly's Redditch and Bromsgrove group, set up by volunteer coordinators Gill Talbot and Alan Wodzynski, holds volunteer-led monthly Sunday afternoon tea parties for older people across the two towns.

The charity, which has 22 members, mostly from Redditch but also from Bromsgrove, Alvechurch and wider area, is aiming to raise at least £1,500 for the trip to Llandudno in Wales.

They expect the coach would cost between £600 and £900 and they would also like to provide a fish and chip lunch.

The trip would probably take place in May, June or September, skipping the peak season.

To raise the cash an online auction via a fundraising page has been set up.

Mr Wodzynski said: "Most of these people seldom get away from their homes. They haven’t been to the seaside in twenty or thirty years.

"Life doesn't end when you're in your 70s or 80s," he added.

Posting online, Ms Talbot said: "We would love to take our lonely elderly guests to the seaside this summer, please help us make this happen."

She added: "As local volunteer coordinators for Contact The Elderly Alan and I are dedicated to reconnecting lonely, isolated, elderly with their local community.

"We put smiles on faces through our network of monthly tea party volunteer hosts and volunteer drivers. We create friendships across our tea party guests, hosts and

drivers. All for free."

The charity currently has 40 helpers but is always seeking more volunteers, drivers and hosts, who provide their services free so that the members do not pay for anything.

To make a donation or take part in the auction visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Gill-Talbot2. For more information go to Contact The Elderly Charity - Redditch/Bromsgrove Group on Facebook or visit the Twitter @GTAssociates.

Anyone who would like to offer their time to the charity can email alan@gtassociatesdmcs.com or call 07956 301 299.