Isolation is a huge issue and this can be acutely felt if you are alone on Christmas Day.

Last Christmas, more than 300,000 over-75s were believed to have spent Christmas Day alone and this year, that figure is set to rise.

Our research found nearly 31 per cent of over-75s will be spending the day alone because their family is living far away.

Others say it is because they don’t speak to their children any more or because they don’t want to put their busy family under any more pressure at Christmas.

Sadly, a small number admit they simply weren’t invited to spend the day with anyone.

Nearly half say they think families are fragmented and under a lot of pressure, with older people easily forgotten.

Technological advances, although welcomed by charities for those times when face-to-face contact isn’t possible, seems to have replaced an actual visit, with 47 per cent saying technology means people make less effort to actually see each other.

With the majority of older people wanting a traditional Christmas spent in company, we have partnered with Community Christmas for 2014, with the aim no older person should have to spend Christmas alone if they don’t want to.

We have created a website, which will be a portal where those who are holding events, activities or offering support to older people on Christmas Day can register them.

The website provides a one-stop-shop for older people, their families, friends and carers to search for options near them on Christmas Day.

Actress Felicity Kendal, who is backing the campaign, said: “It is heartbreaking to think of half a million older people sitting on their own, hidden away, while the nation enjoys themselves.

“Let’s show older people we do care and make sure they know there are invites waiting this Christmas.”

Caroline Billington, founder of Community Christmas, said: “If you’re on your own when you don’t want to be at Christmas, it’s a really hard day.

“It only takes a pub to open on Christmas Day or a community centre with a lunch on to register it at Community Christmas to show older people there are other options near them this Christmas.

“We want it to be a day older people can look forward to and would ask everyone to register their events on the Community Christmas website.”

Please tell us about your event at www.communitychristmas.org.uk

David McCullough

Chief executive, Royal Voluntary Service