VINTAGE VIBES BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Award-winning Edinburgh-based charity project, Vintage Vibes is marking eight years of tackling the loneliness crisis in the city by having a party for lonely and isolated older people (their VIPs) and delivering cupcakes to those who are housebound and unable to attend Vintage Vibes’ birthday celebrations at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s (RZSS) Edinburgh Zoo.
Teaming up with Cuckoo’s Bakery and EZ Bike Tours, they delivered a birthday treat and a chat to older people who were unable to attend due to health or mobility issues to ensure nobody was left out of the celebrations.
Vintage Vibes brings people together through friendship matches, groups, and events to tackle social isolation and loneliness in the over the 60s across Edinburgh.
Since its creation in 2015, the charity partnership has now helped over 1000 older people in the city to establish one-to-one friendships based on mutually shared interests from baking, gaming and, like Aly and Betty, beach walks and milkshakes.
Events, and groups are also available from sewing to cinema, and singing to bring people together for fun and friendship.
Gemma Wright, Communications and Fundraising Lead at Vintage Vibes, said: “We are so grateful to Cuckoo’s Bakery, EZ Bike Tours and Edinburgh Zoo for helping to make our 8th birthday celebrations so amazing.
“We delivered cupcakes to the homes of our wonderful VIPs that were sadly, unable to join us for our birthday party. We exist to bring fun and friendship to older people who are feeling lonely and isolated through our network of amazing friendship volunteers and the support of local businesses and funding partnerships.
“We would like to thank all involved for your ongoing support and helping us to ensure everyone was included.”
Having successfully delivered over 20,000 hours of volunteering, Vintage Vibes’ 2023 annual survey showed that 95% of their VIPs felt that being involved in the project left them feeling happier and gave them a better quality of life.
Vintage Vibes is now seeking amazing new Edinburgh-based volunteers to expand the project and offer support to even more older people across the city.
Thomas Partridge, Director of Cuckoo’s Bakery said: “We first helped Vintage Vibes back in 2017 when we supported their heart-warming Christmas Card Campaign. We are delighted to be able to make a difference again and provide celebration cupcakes to those older people who were unable to attend the party.
“The team at our new bakery on Grindlay Street waved them off on their mission to tackle isolation in the city and we hope everyone enjoyed the fun!”
Euan at EZ Bike Tours said: “We’re delighted to support Vintage Vibes in making their birthday celebrations extra special and to play our part in helping to tackle loneliness in older people across Edinburgh.”
For more information on becoming a Vintage Vibes volunteer, please contact Vintage Vibes by emailing hello@vintagevibes.org.uk or visit vintagevibes.org.uk.