ViVO vows to tackle loneliness this Christmas

ViVO stores have launched a new charity partnership with the leading charity for older people in Northern Ireland, Age NI.

Through the partnership, ViVO stores across Northern Ireland hope to raise £20,000 for Age NI in the next year, which will be used to fund vital services and activities aimed at improving the lives of older people and making Northern Ireland a more age friendly place to live. In addition to the fundraising campaign, the partnership will also see the appointment of a ViVO Ambassador in every store, who will  act as a fundraising champion.

ViVO currently has 80 stores in Northern Ireland operating under the ViVO and ViVO Essentials brands and employs a dedicated workforce that is passionate about supporting local communities. This new charity partnership will allow retailers and customers alike to make a difference to their older neighbours and friends who are be experiencing isolation, poverty or even loneliness.

Age NI has identified that one in three older people feel lonely and  provides a range of services  to tackle this growing problem and help make Northern Ireland more age friendly

The fundraising campaign by ViVO stores will help to promote these services and encourage older people from all walks of life in Northern Ireland to contact Age NI to get the advice and support they need.   Included in the range of fundraising activities planned is a Christmas Hamper Raffle, which customers can enter for as little as £1 and many stores will also host a Coffee morning for customers in the new year.

Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing with the Henderson Group, owners of the ViVO franchise welcomed the new partnership and is encouraging shoppers to get behind this fundraising campaign, “Enhancing local communities is at the heart of everything we do in our stores and so we are delighted to have joined forces with Age NI and pledged to support their age friendly and No-one Should Have No-one campaigns.

“We know Christmas can be a time when many shoppers are feeling the pinch but we are urging our customers to think about their older neighbours and give what they can to ensure no one has to spend Christmas alone. Our ViVO retailers and staff already do a lot of great work in the communities they serve, so we have no doubt that they will get behind the campaign and help make a real, tangible difference to those in need.”

Nadine Campbell, Head of Fundraising with Age NI said, “It’s fantastic for Age NI to have the support of such an established and generous network of stores. Every day, VIVO retailers are in contact with older people and having conversations which may be the only conversation that person has in a day. Working together we can highlight that they are not on their own and that Age NI is here to support them.

“The money raised will help to reduce isolation and loneliness and to develop an age friendly network to better support the needs of our older population. Just £50 could help fund indoor exercise mats to help people stay fit and active in one of Age NI’s 11 day centres while £500 could cover  outreach activities to keep clients more socially engaged.

“We look forward to working with ViVO stores over the coming months and to meeting all of our new store ambassadors who will deliver a hugely rewarding service to so many.”

To keep up to date with all of the fundraising activities in your local area, visit the VIVO Facebook page or the Age NI website.