A company offering support to enable many elderly in north Herts to stay in their own homes has been busy delivering gifts over the festive period in our area.

Home Instead Stevenage and North Herts have been working with local businesses, schools and community groups across our area to bring some extra festive cheer to our elderly and vulnerable community, who have had a particularly difficult year as a result of the pandemic.

Through Home Instead's efforts more than 700 gifts have been delivered to the elderly and vulnerable in our community.

The cheer came as a welcome boost after many faced a lonely Christmas after nearly 12 months of unprecedented wellbeing challenges caused by Covid, and the government restrictions on travel and household mixing over the festive period.

Jo Hooper from Home Instead, who led the Santa for a Senior gift initiative, told Nub News: 'We have been honoured to be a part of this fantastic project and have been humbled by the support we have received from the community.

"More than ever this year, the elderly has felt loneliness, vulnerability, and isolation like never before.

"This simple act of kindness has brought a wealth of benefits to our elderly neighbours this Christmas."

Hertfordshire Independent Living distributed more than 2,000 gift packs to all their clients across Hertfordshire - significantly boosted by the help of Home Instead and various other amazing partners.

These gift packs contained a variety of goods intended to raise spirits, helping them feel valued and cared for.

Kind-hearted Jo added: "We had fabulous support from the schoolchildren who donated gifts and cards.

"Christmas is geared towards children, not to seniors, Hertfordshire has more than 195,000 people over the age of 65, one of the largest population of seniors in the UK.

"With all the tragedies we've had in the past months this has given the children the opportunity to lift the hearts of many in Hertfordshire by bringing Christmas to the elderly."

Several recipients have written to Jo and her team, including a man named John, who said: "I have just been given a gift, some bird food and holder to put on my window. I will think of you, when I watch the birds."

Sarah Wren, HILS Chief Executive, explained: "Christmas is a particularly difficult time for people who are isolated. But with the ongoing pandemic, older people are having to be extra cautious about going out and socialising, and families are finding it hard to travel to meet each other.

"This means that an increasingly large number of older and vulnerable people faced a very lonely Christmas.

"It is so important that we pull together to support the most vulnerable at these very challenging times."