ISOLATED residents facing the possibility of spending the holidays alone came together for an early Christmas party this week.

More than 30 people got together in Eastcott Community Centre in Saversnake Street to enjoy some food, sing carols, and meet some new people.

The event was organised by Swindon Borough Council's Health and Wellbeing team to tackle loneliness.

It was a community effort all round: Zurich Community Trust provided a brunch, classic festive music was provided by children from Commonweal School, and Lotmead Farm provided the tree to light up the room.

Seventy-five-year-old Irene Killick said she spent a number of years isolated in her own home before meeting Swindon Circles volunteer Maureen Hughes.

“This party means a great deal to me because I will be alone at Christmas. It is wonderful to be out of the house and meeting all these people,” said Irene. “Maureen is an absolute gem, she really is."

Maureen, who has been a Swindon Circles volunteer for 18 months, added: “Irene suffers from agoraphobia so it is great she now has the confidence to come out of her house to an event like this. I think it is just brilliant that this party has been organised because it means so much to everyone.

“I just love volunteering. I’m not just a volunteer who helps Irene, we are now friends. We have the same sense of humour and we have so much in common, it is unbelievable.”

Derek Bonner, 92, was equally bowled over by the Christmas festivities. He said: “It is lovely to be invited and to come out and have the chance to talk to other people and develop new friendships.

“It was also lovely to be picked up and brought here today. I’m looking forward to the carols.”

Councillor Brian Ford, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults, said: “I would like to thank my officers in the Health and Wellbeing team for the outstanding work they do co-ordinating the Swindon Circles volunteers and for organising fantastic events such as this.

“We are also indebted to our volunteers, who selflessly give up their time to help others, and to everyone else who made the Christmas party such a success. I would like to wish them all a very happy Christmas.”