How a £1,000 Donation Supports Harrogate Charity Tackling Loneliness by Funding Vital Befriending Services

It’s a funny thing, feeling lonely. Sometimes it can happen even when you’re surrounded by people. It’s not about being alone, but about feeling disconnected. For many older people, this feeling can become a daily reality, especially if family live far away or getting out and about isn’t as easy as it used to be. The risk of real isolation is a serious problem. But in Harrogate, a local charity is doing brilliant work to tackle this, and they’ve just received a fantastic bit of support. On 8 April 2026, a local care home, Hampden House, made a generous donation of £1,000 to a charity called Supporting Older People, helping them to continue their vital work in the community.

Image: L to R Hampden House manager Laura Newall, SOP Director Kate Rogata, SOP Befriending Manager Julia Lightfoot, and HICA Operations & Compliance Manager Julie Wood

A proper local effort to tackle loneliness

Think about your week. You might see your mates at school, chat with your family over dinner, or bump into neighbours at the shops. These little moments, these everyday connections, are what keep us all feeling part of something. But for some older people, these opportunities can shrink. That’s where the feeling of loneliness can creep in. A local charity in the Harrogate and Knaresborough district has been on a mission for over 40 years to make sure this doesn’t happen. The charity is called Supporting Older People, and they do exactly what their name suggests.

They provide amazing support and services to more than 300 older people across the area. It’s not just about one thing; their work is a mix of volunteer-led help and small group activities, all designed to build companionship and create new connections. This kind of local support is a lifeline. The donation from Hampden House, which is part of the not-for-profit social care provider HICA Group, is a huge boost for this fantastic local charity and its ongoing mission to help older people feel less isolated.

What does the charity actually do?

So, what does it mean to offer a ‘befriending service’? It’s actually a really simple, but powerful, idea. Imagine someone popping round to your gran’s house for a cup of tea and a good natter, or helping her with a bit of shopping. That’s what volunteers for Supporting Older People do. They offer companionship to people who might otherwise go days without a proper conversation. This befriending service is at the core of the support they provide.

But it's more than just one-on-one visits. The charity organises all sorts of things to help older people in the community stay connected. Their services might include:

• Regular social groups for a chat and a biscuit.

• Activities and outings to local spots.

• Practical help and advice.

• The all-important befriending, which provides a friendly face and a listening ear.

This kind of care makes a massive difference. It helps people stay independent in their own home for longer and keeps them woven into the fabric of their local community. The donation from Hampden House will directly fund these crucial services, making sure the charity can continue its work across the Harrogate district.

A natural partnership in care

It makes perfect sense for a care home to support a charity like this. The team at Hampden House sees every single day how important friendship and human connection are for the health and happiness of their residents. They are experts in providing care and fostering a sense of community within their home. By making this donation, they are extending that same spirit of care out into the wider Harrogate area. It’s about looking after not just their own residents, but all older people in the district who might be at risk of becoming isolated.

Laura Newall, the Home Manager at Hampden House, explained why the partnership felt so right. She said:

“We see every day how important connection and companionship are for older people. Working with a local charity like Supporting Older People felt like a natural fit for us, as their work complements what we do within the home and extends that support into the wider community. We wanted to back an organisation that is making a clear difference locally, particularly for people who may be living alone and at risk of becoming isolated.”

This £1,000 donation isn’t just a number; it’s a powerful statement of support from one part of the local care community to another. It helps bridge the gap between the formal care provided in a home and the voluntary support that helps people thrive independently.

The view from the front line

For a charity like Supporting Older People, every donation counts. The demand for their services is always high, and having steady funding means they can plan ahead and reach more people who need them. Partnerships with local organisations are essential for a charity to keep its promises to the community. This support means they can train more volunteers for the befriending service and keep their social groups running smoothly across both Harrogate and Knaresborough.

Julia Lightfoot, who is the Befriending Manager at Supporting Older People, highlighted just how much this kind of local support means. She said:

“Support from local organisations like Hampden House plays an important role in helping us continue and expand our services. Demand for support remains high, and contributions like this allow us to reach more older people who may otherwise feel isolated. Our befriending service in particular relies on sustained funding and volunteer support, so partnerships with local care providers are vital in helping us respond to need across the area.”

It's a brilliant example of how a community can come together. When a care provider like Hampden House, part of the HICA Group, makes a donation, it creates ripples. It helps a charity provide its services, which in turn helps older people feel less isolated and more connected, making the whole district a stronger and kinder place to live.