Always on
This project successfully funded on 25th February 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
The Silent Fundraiser 2026
Preston, Lancashire, United Kingdom
£240
raised so far
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Aim
Keeping over-65s connected through 1:1 support and social groups. Your help ensures our loneliness prevention work continues across Fylde.
The Silent Fundraiser 2026
On Sunday, 22nd February AFC Fylde Community Foundation will be hosting 'The Silent Fundraiser 2026', where 20+ local business and community leaders at Kirkham Community Centre - the home of our Kirkham Companions sessions - will remain silent for 12 hours in an attempt to raise vital funding whilst experiencing what older people might go through everyday.
About Us
AFC Fylde Community Foundation is a trusted and respected local charity. We rely on external stakeholders to fund our projects. However, in this instance we would like to ensure that our Loneliness Prevention Project can become self-sufficient - but, we need your help to make that happen.
We support the residents of Fylde across our three pillars:
- Employability, Education and Skills
- Sport Development
- Community Engagement
and we have been running our Loneliness Prevention Project for the last three years, delivering hundreds of both one-to-one support sessions and weekly group activities for people over the age of 65; having recently received a nomination for 'Community Initiative of the Season' at the North West Football Awards.
Why are we doing The Silent Fundraiser?
There are very few things guaranteed in life, but unfortunately, ageing is one of them. As you grow older those around you may pass on or your younger family may move on with their own lives - so, who is there for you? Who is there to pop round for a brew, to share news with after a good day, to go out to dinner with or just go for a walk?
A problem that your Mum or Dad, Grandma or Grandad, Uncle or Aunty, your old school teacher or former colleague at work, may be facing right now.
Some older adults can go days without a social interaction, the only time they might leave the house is to do a food shop - which was once easy, could now seem like a daunting task.
The Impact of our Support
Our Community Engagement Manager, Daisy Sheridan, said: “The Kirkham Companions group is an opportunity for local over 65s to meet likeminded people and join in with activities."
She also believes: "The group means a lot to the people who attend as it is an opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
"Kirkham Companions is part of our Loneliness Prevention Project which works to reduce the isolation of older people across the Fylde Borough through improving links to their community and providing one to one support."
We took the opportunity to catch up with one of our members, Peter Kitt (pictured below). He is 78 years old, his family all live in Southampton, who he sees for a week once every three months and unfortunately he is now also bereaved.
Born in Blackpool and having now lived in Wesham for 20 years, the Foundation is delighted that we are having such a positive impact on someone like Peter.
The 78-year-old said: "I've been coming [to Kirkham Companions] every week for 18 months. It's become a part of my week, I look forward to it and I look forward to seeing the people, it's exactly what the name says - companions.
"I'm involved with many charities including this one and I would definitely recommend this to others, it's bringing people together and a lot of people here are active and come along - but you find in Kirkham, a lot of people live in their own world so they don't respond."
Peter also volunteers at a farm two days a week, which is "like having my own horse with no responsibility or cost" he said.
Support Us
By supporting us through our Crowdfunder page you are actively contributing towards the care of older adults - it could be someone you know who directly benefits from your donation.
We have very kindly been gifted a variety of products or services to sell at a discounted rate for you to access. Take a browse through our shop, see if you fancy anything for yourself or if there is a nice gift for a loved one - every sale goes directly into the donation pot.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made