MARIANNE Talbot and Thelma Morris look like any good friends enjoying lunch. But they met just a few months ago through the county’s Surviving Winter campaign and are now encouraging others to extend the hand of friendship to help beat elderly isolation.

In 2010/11 there were 360 winter-related deaths across Oxfordshire and, according to the Oxfordshire Community Foundation (OCF), for every person who died there were dozens more, mainly elderly people, suffering from isolation and hardship.

To help combat the problem OCF is co-ordinating the county’s Surviving Winter campaign, which encourages fundraising and befriending for elderly people.

Miss Morris, 86, is unmarried and lives alone in Oxford.

Last Christmas one of her neighbours contacted the OCF and said she was worried about Thelma being alone. The OCF contacted Miss Talbot and a new friendship was born.

Miss Talbot, 57, from Oxford, said: “I have been involved with many charitable groups over the years, but since my mother, who I cared for at home, died four years ago, I had cancelled a lot of the things I’d been involved with.

“But when the OCF contacted me at Christmas and told me about Thelma, I was more than happy to go and see her and I am very glad I did.

“Thelma is the first person I have befriended, but she is a delightful lady and spending time with her is life-enhancing. “She is always happy and has many stories about her life as a bakery delivery driver in Oxford during the war.”

Miss Morris said: “I feel okay when I am out and about, but I can get lonely when I am at home alone and having someone like Marianne to spend time with, have tea and a chat to is wonderful.

“She is so kind and interesting and it would be lovely to think that others like her might come forward and offer friendship to people who are on their own.”

Miss Talbot wrote the book Keeping Mum – Caring for Someone with Dementia and also lectures in philosophy at the University of Oxford.

The OCF is appealing for more people like Miss Talbot to give up a little of their time to offer elderly people a lifeline against isolation.

FACTFILE

  • For more information on befriending in West Oxfordshire, visit http://www.vlu.org.uk
  • If you live in Oxford City, South Oxfordshire or the Vale of White Horse, contact the volunteer centre at Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action, http://www.ocva.org.uk
  • People can also donate money to the Surviving Winter campaign, which will be distributed to individuals needing help with their fuel bills and social groups for elderly people.
  • You can give online by visiting: oxfordshire.org and giving via the Surviving Winter page
  • By cheque: make cheques payable to Oxfordshire Community Foundation, 3 Woodin’s Way, Oxford, OX1 1HD
  • Or text: Snow00 (followed by your donation of £1-£10) to 70070