- Lifestyle
- Health & Families
Christmas is the time to connect with those around you
Camilla FosterMonday 01 December 2025 16:45 GMT
open image in galleryReaching out to neighbours during the festive season can help combat loneliness (Alamy/PA)
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As the festive season approaches, it's easy to become engrossed in personal celebrations, yet extending a hand to neighbours can significantly combat isolation and foster community spirit.
Reaching out within your local area helps build rapport and reduces feelings of loneliness.
Karen Jordan, team leader at the Good Neighbours Network – a collective of over 120 local groups dedicated to community support – highlights this need.
She states: "In society we are becoming increasingly isolated and suspicious of each other, so the benefit of reaching out to a neighbour is that you can bring some of those barriers down and realise that we’re all very similar."
“Reaching out to your neighbours can help you realise that we all have similar problems and worries and sharing them can help reduce that burden.”
open image in gallerySmall gestures can help combat feelings of isolation and loneliness (PA)She highlights that it’s particularly crucial to look out for more vulnerable groups, such any elderly neighbours who live on their own, this time of year.
“A lot of our Good Neighbourhood Network groups help people who are over 65 and many of the volunteers themselves are in that age bracket,” says Jordan. “I think it’s also important to reach out to young families and mothers who might be struggling on their own and might benefit from a chat.”
Here are some simple ways to be the best neighbour you can be this Christmas…
Look around
“I think one of the most important things that people can do to help their neighbours this Christmas and winter is to just start taking notice,” says Jordan. “Just look around and take notice of little signs that might indicate that somebody is struggling.”
Get a conversation going
“It can be tricky because the older generation is very proud, so often wouldn’t want to admit that they’re lonely, so that can be quite a barrier,” recognises Jordan.
“I would always recommend having a very light touch about it and perhaps just start with ‘if you fancy a chat and a cup of tea anytime, just let me know’ to help get the conversation going.”
Spread awareness about local groups and services
Your neighbour might not be aware of all the great local groups and activities in the area, so Jordan recommends highlighting these wonderful services.
“You could say I know of a local voluntary group that can help with taking people to the GP or a hospital, or has befriending services,” says Jordan. “You could phrase it in a way of wanting to spread the message about the certain group, so they don’t feel targeted.”
Consider a festive gesture
open image in galleryLeaving a simple gift for a neighbour can make someone’s day (PA)A small gesture like a Christmas card could help brighten someone’s day.
“A lot of our Good Neighbours Network groups do Christmas specific things, such as putting on a Christmas community lunch or putting cards or small gifts through people’s doors,” says Jordan. “Small festive gestures like these are really nice.”
Signpost helpful services
“One of our satellite projects is to spread the message of the Priority Services Register,” says Jordan. “It’s a service that quite a wide range of people can sign up to, including people of pensionable age and people who have children under five.”
To register, you need to contact your energy and/or water supplier directly, either online, by phone or in writing.
“If there is a power cut or a water cut and you have signed up to the register, then you will be one of the first people who are reached out to,” explains Jordan.
Offer to help with errands
If you know your neighbour is unable to drive, you could ask them if they would like a lift to the shops or any upcoming hospital appointments.
“Many of our Good Neighbours Network groups offer medical transport, but it isn’t just about taking them to hospital,” says Jordan. “It’s the reassurance that somebody is going to turn up at a certain time and take some of that worry of their hospital appointment away.
“It’s also about knowing that they’re going to have a chat on the way there and a chat on the way back. Most of our volunteers will actually take them into the hospital or GP practice and wait for them. So, there’s that important moral support element to it as well.”
Introduce them to a lunch club
“A lot of local groups offer lunch clubs which are a really good way to get people out of their home and into a warm environment to have a cup of tea and a chat with somebody that they wouldn’t normally speak to,” says Jordan.
