By Laerke Christensen, reporter

A Kent fund is ready to fight loneliness in elderly people through winter fuel donations.

1 in 10 elderly people across Kent report feeling lonely some or all of the time.

Kent Community Foundation’s (KCF) Surviving Winter Campaign aims to change this, one project at a time.

Last year, the Foundation paid out more than £2m to over 500 projects and people that made an impact on the lives of the elderly across Medway and Kent. The surviving winter campaign alone raised £12,000.

KCF is encouraging people who receive the winter fuel payment but don’t rely on it to donate it to people in need, which is how they build the fund to distribute the money.

Josephine McCartney, CEO of Kent Community Fund explained how the process worked:

“The money that’s donated is distributed to local projects that address everyday challenges faced by vulnerable elderly people on our county.”

“That could be things like lunch clubs or other social events, advice services, counselling, transport services, befriending schemes and many more, all aimed at helping people stay in touch and active during the winter months.”

One of the organizations that receive money from Kent Community Foundation is Involve in Maidstone. They’ve used to money to set up a choir.

Choir teacher Helen Grant explained why singing work to bring people together:

“It’s great to bring people together into an environment doing something together. It’s good for their heart and lungs and you know, just makes people feel good.”

For participants, the choir gives them an occasion to get out and socialize.

One of the participants, Barry Dart, has come to the choir for a year. He started going after his wife died and it was recommended to him by a friend. He also uses some of Involve’s other initiatives:

“I lost my wife just before that and I think John probably told me about it and I just came and joined in. I like music and I’m trying to also get fit on the fit program.”

Donations to the Surviving Winter fund can be made via Kent Community Foundation’s website kentcf.org.uk or via cheque.