Thursday, January 23, 2025 London North Eastern Railway ( LNER ) is tackling loneliness and social isolation among elderly residents in the North East through its Customer and Community Investment Fund (CCIF) . The initiative has provided crucial funding to Wag & Company , a charity dedicated to connecting older dog-lovers with volunteer owners and their pets. Wag & Company currently operates with over 370 volunteers, who regularly visit elderly individuals in their homes or care facilities, offering much-needed companionship.
Thanks to LNER’s funding, the charity will recruit and train an additional 40 volunteer dog owners , enabling 40 new weekly home visits or visits to as many as 400 individuals in care homes and hospitals across the region. The difference Wag & Company makes is highlighted in a short film released by LNER, showcasing 91-year-old Gladys, who enjoys weekly visits from Jasper, a friendly canine companion, and his volunteer owner, Helen. For Gladys, these visits offer a chance to reminisce, bond, and experience the joy of canine companionship once again.
Diane Morton, Founder and Chair of Wag & Company, emphasized the importance of the charity’s mission: “There are over 50,000 elderly people in the North East experiencing loneliness and its associated mental and physical challenges. Many of them miss the companionship of a dog. The support from LNER allows us to expand our team of volunteers, ensuring more people have something to look forward to—a f.
