In an effort to help tackle the loneliness and isolation often experienced by our senior citizens, tenants of Fife Housing Group, Kingdom Housing, Ore Valley and Glen Housing, were invited along to the Vine Conference Centre in Dunfermline to enjoy a vintage afternoon tea whilst enjoying live performances from the Fife Ukulele Orchestra, Sing in the City Choir, music from Radio West Fife and a prize bingo session run by Carlton Bingo.

In addition to the entertainment, a range of partner agencies were on hand to offer advice and support regarding accessible services on offer throughout Fife. These included Paws at Work Scotland (PAWS) Therapy Dogs, Fife Shopping and Support Services, Cosy Kingdom, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, British Red Cross, Fife Cares, Safe Secure and Supported at Home, Self-Directed Support (SDS) Options, Fife Elderly Forum, Link Living, Scottish Miners Welfare, Sacro, Police Scotland, Meal Makers and Safer Communities.

On top of this there was the opportunity for guests to pamper themselves with free manicures, pick up some new titles at the book swap and participate in a Scottish-themed quiz or win a prize in the raffle and, if all that wasn’t enough to guarantee a great afternoon, each tenant also received a free goodie bag full handy items and a lovely pair of new slippers.

Su Bramley, director of housing at Fife Housing Group, said: “Every year many elderly people end up in hospital as a result of falls and trips in their home and often these falls occur due to loose, worn or ill-fitting slippers. These falls can destroy confidence, increase isolation and reduce independence so by providing new slippers we hope to help reduce the chance of these, often avoidable, falls occurring.”

This event was only made possible due to tremendous support and generous donations from suppliers and local businesses including Saltire, Chef4you, Lazy Sunday, The Green Cockatoo, Babcock, Better World Books, Bay Travel, Merlin Travel, Sea Cadets, Flower Pixies, Poppy Floral Design, Tesco, Andrew Wilson and Sons Ltd, Our Power, NHS Scotland, Kidd Promo and Rosyth Gala, many of whom went the extra mile to make this day one to remember for our more elderly tenants, some of whom don’t often have the opportunity to experience something like this.

All images provided courtesy of Karen Begg (Fife Housing Group) and Lesley Cunningham (Ore Valley HA)