Drop-in centre marks decade of new friendships

'LIFE-CHANGING' Northumberland drop-in centre that offers a beacon of hope to people struggling with loneliness and isolation is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

- KALI LINDSAY

More than 50,000 people have visited the centre at The Alnwick Garden since it was established in 2015 with the support of the Stuart Halbert Foundation.

With Age UK reporting that 940,000 older people in the UK are often lonely, The Alnwick Garden is providing a vital lifeline and advocating that isolation should not be an inevitable consequence of growing older.

Having founded the project in 2015, The Duchess of Northumberland is passionate about its impact, explaining: "At its core, our Drop-In Centre represents a safe space for people to come together and find new friendships.