A TV presenter and retirement home firm are joining together to tackle loneliness and isolation in older people.

Dame Esther Rantzen DBE and Churchill Retirement Living will hold a series of virtual “Catch Up Over Coffee” events, giving people in Penrith the chance to raise money for The Silver Line charity by getting together online.

Churchill will donate £5 to the older people’s helpline for everyone who attends the virtual events or books an appointment to visit one of its local developments until February 27.

Churchill ambassador, Dame Esther Rantzen, will attend some of the events to share stories from her career and talk about the importance of keeping connected during lockdown. The Silver Line, which Esther founded, operates the only confidential, free helpline for older people across the UK that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year, helping to combat loneliness and isolation.

The virtual event at Penrith’s Dutton Lodge development will take place via an online link on Thursday 25th February.

Call 0800 458 1857 or visit churchillretirement.co.uk/virtualcoffeemorning to request a link and guide to join this event, or find out about further events taking place during February and March.