Loneliness and social isolation are issues all year, but Christmas and winter period can present additional challenges. The reduction in routine services, early or complete closure of shops, colder weather, shorter daylight hours, and changes in individual health conditions all contribute to difficulties in maintaining social connections, regardless of whether one celebrates Christmas.
Although Christmas is commonly characterised as a season marked by joy, togetherness, and frequent gatherings, such as family meals and reunions, but in recent research by Age UK underscores the prevalence of loneliness among older adults during this period:
Half of older people (6.3 million) report that they no longer experience the previous joy associated with Christmas, while one million experience greater isolation during Christmas than at any other time of year.
Older individuals also face continued challenges on Christmas Day itself: 1.5 million will eat dinner alone while 670,000 will have no social interactions.
There is a prevalent assumption among younger and midlife adults that older persons are either too frail to participate in festivities or prefer solitude. While some find this a restful period, this does not reflect the experiences of all older adults; for many, Christmas is a critical opportunity to ensure inclusion and recognition.
Additionally, individuals aged 18-64 noted that interactions with older people may prompt reflections on their own ageing process. The holiday season often intensifies the physical and emotional challenges associated with ageing.
For 11 million older people, Christmas evokes memories of past times, and 5.9 million find the season difficult due to remembering loved ones who have passed away.
Relying on food banks
For thousands rising prices have forced distressing choices: cutting back on essentials, skipping meals or turning to food banks. Nearly one in four adults say they would struggle to pay an unexpected £850 bill, underscoring the financial fragility felt across the country. In the year to May 2025, 5.3 million low-income families reported skipping meals, while 1.5 million used food banks, and this food insecurity will only get harder during the festive season.
Alongside economic strain, homelessness has surged. Shelter estimates that at least 354,000 people in England will be without a permanent home this Christmas, including thousands of children. Local figures show over 3,000 people in places like Milton Keynes will spend Christmas homeless, with similar patterns in towns and cities nationwide. Meanwhile, rough sleeping in London has hit record levels, rising by around 18 per cent in the past year, and nightly counts continue to climb as winter temperatures drop.
In this landscape, community support is crucial. British Asian community members, charities, faith groups, and volunteer networks are stepping in, providing food, warm clothing, shelter, and companionship for the wider British society during these festive months. Beyond practical aid, these grassroots efforts bring human connection, offering hope and dignity to those most vulnerable during the coldest, loneliest months of the year.
Meet & Deep Newsagents: A local lifeline
One such place offering much-needed human connection is Meet & Deep Newsagents in Twickenham, run by Shashi and Pallu Patel. As they do every year, the couple will open their doors on Christmas Day, one of the very few days they would normally have off, to welcome anyone who simply needs company and a friendly presence during the festive season.
The couple’s son, Deepen explains, “We want to make sure that nobody feels they have to spend Christmas alone, because it's a time where everybody thinks about family, but lots of people forget that some people have no family, sadly. And so, they are left alone.
“This year, we will be opening the doors between 12-4PM, offering samosas and masala chai. That's my great-great-grandmother's recipe of masala chai, and our own blend of spices, along with my mother's samosas, free food, chocolates, crisps and refreshments; it will be a party atmosphere. We're going to have disco lights all around the shops, carols playing and dress up in full fancy dress outfits. We are also going to be giving out free hugs to everybody who needs one on Christmas Day, because we don't want anybody to be alone and we want everybody to know that we are their family too.”
On Boxing Day, the family will be hosting an interactive game show where we will host it from our shop. “We will be playing games with customers who come in as well as interactive games that people watching at home can be involved in. Participants can win prizes from home and that way we can reach the whole world through our shop”, Deepen said.
Driven by their faith and a belief in good karma, the Patel family have quietly turned their local shop into a lifeline for the community. Over the years, they have launched a series of grassroots initiatives through their newsagents, including a food bank, a winter “heat hub”, offering warmth to those unable to afford rising fuel bills. Tables and chairs were set up so residents, particularly students, could sit, work, use Wi-Fi and stay warm when heating their own homes was not an option.
They also introduced a book bank, encouraging neighbours to share books and step away from screens. Perhaps most touching is their loneliness phone line, open every evening from 6pm to 8pm, where anyone feeling isolated can call for a simple, human conversation about life, health or just to connect.
Khalsa Aid International: Local and global action
Another organisation stepping up to deliver for the community this winter is Khalsa Aid International. The charity has launched its National Winter Blanket Drive, beginning on 14 December, to provide warmth, dignity, and hope to those most affected by the cold.
Collection points across the UK have mobilised communities to donate blankets and winter essentials, which will be distributed to people experiencing homelessness and families in hardship. Meanwhile, the charity’s Langar Aid team in Coventry continues to provide hot meals, essential supplies, and support to vulnerable individuals, including international students, offering both practical help and compassionate human connection during difficult times.
Khalsa Aid International’s winter response spans the globe. In Punjab, India, it is distributing clothing and essentials to flood-affected families, while in Türkiye, teams are delivering coal, vital supplies and toys to refugee camps near the Syrian border, supporting communities facing extreme hardship.
Speaking about the winter initiatives, Ravi Singh, Founder of Khalsa Aid International, said, “Winter strips away comfort and safety for millions of people. At Khalsa Aid, we respond with humanity - providing warmth, food, and reassurance to those who need it most, whether they are sleeping rough in the UK or sheltering in camps overseas.”
Food for Life London: Nourishment and community
Food for Life London is a UK based charity organisation, under the ISKCON London Hare Krishna temple in Central London, that provides free vegetarian and plant-based meals to those in need. The charity feeds needy people in Central London: Holborn and Charing Cross with prashadam, blessed food that is nourishing for the body and soul, distributing about 600 plates a week, Monday to Saturday.
The charity distributed 3,408 free hot vegetarian and plant-based meals to those in need in November, 3,256 in September and 3,417 in August. The charity also distributed warm clothes recently. Additionally, Food for Life constantly welcomes people who want to volunteer and donate, forming a community around helping others. More information can be found on their website.
While we can only highlight a few, countless individuals and organisations across the UK are stepping up to support those in need during this challenging festive period. In Wolverhampton, the Susan Vickers Foundation donated 48 Christmas trees to families with care experience, offering a “symbol of hope.” Bristol’s Caring at Christmas provides a safe space, hot meals, and warm drinks for the homeless, supported by around 400 volunteers. Cheltenham Open Door offers festive meals and entertainment to socially isolated individuals over Christmas, while Clevedon YMCA in North Somerset serves free cooked breakfasts for anyone seeking company. And these are just a few.
From community kitchens to winter shelters, British civil society is filling gaps that official services cannot. This Christmas, those acts of solidarity are more than seasonal goodwill; they are a lifeline, a reminder that in the darkest months, compassion can make the difference between survival and despair.
