Christmas may be over, but that doesn’t mean the goodwill has to be.

The Age UK shop in Radstock is encouraging local people to keep the Christmas spirit alive by donating their unwanted presents to help the charity to raise funds so it can continue to run its vital services and make this winter a little brighter for older people.

Winter can be one of the toughest and most challenging times of year for older people, with many routine services scaled back over the holiday period and the colder weather making it harder to get out and about.

Age UK’s support services include the charity’s free and confidential Advice Line and Telephone Friendship services. As well as raising funds so that Age UK can continue its vital work, by recycling gifts, people will also be helping to reduce waste. Findings from the Gift Card & Voucher Association revealed that each year we receive an average of two unwanted Christmas presents each, equating to more than 119.5 million gifts. Of these, an incredible 22.7 million unwanted gifts are sent to landfill. So instead of letting that book you’ve already read or that novelty jumper you’ll probably never wear gather dust in the loft, donate them to Age UK where they will be sold on to be loved again!

Visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/brighterchristmas or for Telephone Friendship services please call for free on: 0800 169 6565 (open every day from 8am – 7pm), or visit: www.ageuk.org.uk/telephone-friendship