After Sally Burton was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it was through volunteering that she found purpose again…

Betty Middleton had only moved in two weeks earlier, but already she was starting to annoy me with her frequent knocks at my back door. “Would you like a slice of my lemon drizzle? It’s home-made!” No

THIS year, Vanessa was going to have a different kind of festive season. She usually hosted Christmas for her family at her house, even after her husband passed away a few years ago. Every second year

One in five older people in the UK admits to feelings of loneliness – and this only intensifies at Christmas. What is causing this crisis and how can we combat the sense of isolation?

Volunteer Rebecca Cook brings some Christmas cheer to lonely people

When Cheryl Barnacle boarded a plane to Florida in 2006, she thought life couldn’t get any better. She and husband Clive had just celebrated their silver wedding anniversary, looking forward to motorb