Leeds Families Urged to Help Battle Loneliness

Leeds families are being urged to help someone escape loneliness over the festive period. A website's been set up aimed at pairing those who would otherwise be alone with residents who are happy to make an extra space at their table. Sarah Carmody from Adel created the site - Lonely at Christmas: "People contact me via Twitter, Facebook or the website and either offer a place at their dinner table or let me know if they don't want to be alone at Christmas time," she told us. "Then I contact them and match people together. It's all ages, all backgrounds, it's people from everywhere. "We have families with children who are willing to have someone around for Christmas, we have people who are on their own due to things like family break ups or bereavements and people who have historically spent Christmas alone but don't want to do it this year. "If people have had a breakup or bereavement, that feeling can intensify during the festive season. Things like suicide rates are higher. I just think there are so many people out there who are willing to do nice things then why not get them altogether? "When I was younger I had Christmases alone and it wasn't much fun. It's not about me at all though - I've just seen so many good people out there and so many who just don't want to be alone - we just said let's do something about it then!" For more information visit the site HERE