'Ageing without children can be hard and lonely'
BBCA new lifeline for older people without children has been set up to help tackle isolation.
The North Somerset branch of national charity Ageing Without Children in Weston-super-Mare has proved so popular that a second group has now been launched in Portishead.
The groups are designed to reduce isolation, build friendships and provide practical information about later life.
Mike Davis, 79, a widower from Clevedon, said at the sessions he talks with "like-minded people", adding: "I've got a lot of friends and a busy social life, but life can be hard and lonely, especially in the evenings."
"It's very hard most of the time - most of my friends have got children," he said.
"They can be a pain and they might not want to hear from you, but at least you've got someone to call on when you have a problem, but I haven't got any such situation."
Artist Zena Ryan, 74, agreed the group made a big difference: "I'm on my own, I have no children and have a very small family, none of whom is near enough to be helpful to me.
"If I'm offered a hospital appointment or have to go anywhere, there's not anybody who'll say 'come on nan, come on gran, I'll take you there and I'll bring you back'."
Organisers agree that the groups are making a big difference to people's lives.
Its founder Kirsty Staunton said there is an assumption baked into our health and social care system that everyone has an adult child who can help with phone calls or filling out forms.
"If you don't have someone doing that for you, you can be very disadvantaged.
"The groups allow people to share experiences and ideas. If someone is in the hospital, people can message them 'are you okay, do you need anything?'
"We also have talks about the different services available to support people and how to plan for later life," she added.
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