Alone at Christmas

The Rotary Club of Eastbourne ‘Alone at Christmas’ event is open to persons who live alone and will be alone on Christmas Day and is in its 43rd year.

Guests must live within the boundaries of the Borough of Eastbourne, Willingdon and Polegate. Persons outside this area can attend but they must make their own way to and from the venue.

If you are or know of such a person, please let us have their contact details. Or, if you wish to apply as a volunteer driver or helper on the day, we would be pleased to hear from you.

There is no charge for the event. We provide transport (starting from 12 noon) to and from Our Lady of Ransom Church Hall and at 1.00pm serve Christmas lunch with all the trimmings; entertainment during the afternoon followed by tea and Christmas Cake. We take guests home from about 3:30pm.

Each potential guest is telephoned to arrange an appointment and visited personally in their home by a Rotarian to check their ‘Alone’ status and mobility required by our Safety Risk Assessment. If they walk with a stick or wheeled aid, that is fine, but we are unable to manage wheelchairs or fixed Zimmer frames.

We generally serve around 100 guests on Christmas Day.

If you are or know of persons fitting our criteria, we would be pleased to add them to our list. We commence vetting in early November.

With their express consent, please provide the following information for each prospective guest.

 ·         Full name
 ·         Address
 ·         Postcode (essential for our minibus route)
 ·     Telephone number.

Guests: Please send this information by email if you have it or by telephone to our guest coordinator; Rotarian Ian Huke. Email: ianhuke666@gmail.com   Phone: 01323 488158

Volunteers: If you wish to be considered as a driver or helper on Christmas Day between 12 Noon and 5pm, please forward your details by email to our Volunteers Coordinator; Rotarian Nicola Williams. Email nicolamw@btinternet.com or Phone: 07766 798773. 

Other enquiries? Email: secretary@eastbournerotary.org.uk or phone 01323 651166