posted 15th June 2026
Bristol Charities Supporting Older People: Local Help, Friendship and Practical Support
When you are supporting an older loved one, it can be hard to know where to turn.
You might be looking for advice. You might be worried about loneliness. You might be navigating a dementia diagnosis. Or you might simply want to know what is available locally before things become more difficult.
The good news is that Bristol has some brilliant charities and community organisations supporting older people and their families.
From befriending and social groups to dementia advice, carer support and accessible transport, there is more help out there than many families realise.
General support and companionship
Age UK Bristol
Age UK Bristol is one of the best-known local charities supporting older people across the city.
They offer information, advice and community-based support for later life. Their services can be helpful for older people themselves, as well as family members trying to understand what support is available.
They may be able to help with:
• Telephone befriending
• Social groups
• Reducing loneliness and isolation
• Information and advice
• Signposting to local services
Age UK Bristol also runs the New Beginnings Day Centre, which offers supervised activities such as arts and crafts, music, quizzes, games, gentle exercise and social time in a welcoming environment.
This can be a helpful place to start if your loved one is beginning to feel isolated, needs more structure in their week, or would benefit from friendly community support.
Age UK South Gloucestershire
For families living just outside Bristol, Age UK South Gloucestershire is another important organisation to know about.
They support older people across South Gloucestershire, including areas such asKingswood, Hanham, Staple Hill, Longwell Green, Downend, Emersons Green, Thornbury and surrounding areas.
They may be helpful for:
• Older people living independently
• Families looking for local advice
• People needing practical support
• Community connection
• Signposting to local services
If your loved one lives on the Bristol and South Gloucestershire border, this can be a useful organisation to contact.
Re-engage
Re-engage focuses on reducing loneliness and social isolation among older people.
Their monthly tea parties are designed for people aged 75 and over who live alone or feel socially isolated. These are small, volunteer-led social groups that can help people rebuild confidence and enjoy friendly company.
Some local groups may also offer activities such as light fitness, singing, chair yoga and games.
For someone who has lost confidence socially, a small group can feel much less overwhelming than walking into a busy community centre or larger club.
Royal Voluntary Service
Royal Voluntary Service supports people through volunteering in hospitals and local communities.
In Bristol and South Gloucestershire, they may be able to offer support after a hospital stay, as well as befriending through Good Neighbours schemes for people who are lonely or socially isolated.
This type of support can be a lovely addition to family help, especially for someone who has recently come home from hospital or is beginning to feel cut off from the community.
It is not a replacement for regular care, but it can make a real difference alongside family support, community services and home care.
Memory care and dementia support
Bristol Dementia Action Alliance
Bristol Dementia Action Alliance is a local organisation working to make Bristol a more dementia-aware city.
They bring people, businesses, community groups and organisations together to improve understanding of dementia and help create more inclusive spaces for people living with dementia and their families.
Their work includes dementia awareness, community support, memory cafés, carers’ groups, dementia-aware premises audits, signposting and local projects that help people feel more understood and included.
Bristol Dementia Action Alliance may be helpful for:
People living with dementia
Family members and unpaid carers
Local businesses wanting to become more dementia aware
Community groups and organisations
People looking for memory cafés or dementia-friendly activities
Families wanting local information and signposting
They also run Memory Cafés, which can provide a friendly and relaxed space for people living with dementia and their loved ones to meet others, chat, share experiences and feel part of the community.
For families affected by dementia, organisations like Bristol Dementia Action Alliance can be a really valuable reminder that support does not have to be faced alone. Sometimes simply being around people who understand can make a huge difference.
Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service
Bristol Dementia Wellbeing Service is a key local service for anyone living with dementia, worried about memory problems, or caring for someone with a diagnosis.
They offer personalised dementia advice, post-diagnosis support and guidance for families and carers. Support may be offered face to face, over the phone or in writing, depending on what the person or family needs.
They can help with:
• Dementia advice and information
• Support after diagnosis
• Carer guidance
• Signposting to local groups
• Ongoing support depending on need
They also offer dementia-friendly activities, including nature-based groups at locations such as Conham River Park and Kings Weston Estate.
For families who feel overwhelmed after a diagnosis, this can be a really valuable first point of contact.
Alive Activities
Alive Activities is a Bristol-based charity focused on bringing purpose, creativity and joy into later life.
They support older people and carers through meaningful activities, social connection and community projects.
They also run Meeting Centres for people living with mild to moderate dementia and their carers. These centres are designed to offer practical, emotional and social support in a welcoming environment.
Alive Activities may be helpful for people who would benefit from:
• Creative activities
• Social connection
• Dementia-friendly support
• Intergenerational projects
• A sense of routine and purpose
Their work is a lovely reminder that support for older people is not just about care. It is also about confidence, friendship, identity and having something to look forward to.
Loneliness, advocacy and carer support
Marmalade Trust
Marmalade Trust is a Bristol-based loneliness charity that raises awareness of loneliness and helps people build meaningful connections.
Loneliness can affect anyone, but it can become especially difficult in later life after bereavement, illness, reduced mobility, retirement or changes in family support.
Marmalade Trust is especially known for its work around loneliness awareness, connection projects and Christmas support for people experiencing long-term loneliness.
This can be a helpful organisation to know about if your loved one is physically safe at home, but emotionally becoming more withdrawn.
Carers Support Centre Bristol and South Gloucestershire
Supporting an older loved one can be exhausting, especially when you are trying to balance work, children, family life and your own wellbeing.
Many family members do not even see themselves as carers. They are “just helping Mum”, “just checking on Dad”, or “just doing what family does”.
Carers Support Centre supports unpaid carers across Bristoland South Gloucestershire.
They can offer:
• A confidential telephone support line
• One-to-one support
• Advice about carers’ rights
• Support with planning ahead
• A Carers Emergency Card
• Information and signposting
This is one of those services families often wish they had contacted sooner.
If you are supporting a parent, partner, relative or friend and it is starting to feel like a lot, it may be worth reaching out.
Bristol Older People’s Forum
Bristol Older People’s Forum is a member-led organisation representing older people across the city.
Their work focuses on giving older people a voice, challenging ageism and influencing local decision-making to help make Bristol an age-friendly city.
This is not the same as direct care or befriending, but it plays an important role in making sure older people are seen, heard and included.
It may be useful for older people who want to:
• Stay informed
• Attend workshops
• Have a say in local issues
• Connect with wider conversations around ageing
• Be part of a community that values older voices
Accessible local transport
Transport can be one of the biggest barriers to independence.
Someone may want to attend a group, go shopping, visit a friend or get to an appointment, but if buses are difficult and family members are working, it can quickly become impossible.
Bristol Community Transport offers accessible door-to-door transport, including Dial-a-Ride, shopping trips, days out and group transport for people who find public transport difficult.
Kingswood Community Transport also provides accessible community transport options in South Gloucestershire, including Dial & Ride and local minibus services.
The Well Aware directory is another useful place to search for accessible transport options across Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
These services can help older people stay:
• Independent
• Connected
• Able to attend appointments
• Able to go shopping
• Part of their community
For many families, transport can be the missing piece that helps everything else work better.
Why local charities matter
The right charity or community organisation can help an older person feel less alone, more informed and more connected.
Sometimes the support needed is not personal care.
Sometimes it is:
• A weekly phone call
• A coffee morning
• A dementia group
• Transport to an activity
• Advice after a diagnosis
• Support for the family carer who is quietly burning out
Charities can be a brilliant part of the support network around an older person, especially when used alongside family support, GP advice, social care, community groups and home support.
When extra support at home may also help
Local charities can offer fantastic support, but there may also come a point where your loved one needs more regular, practical help at home.
That might look like:
• Help with meals
• Medication prompts
• Companionship visits
• Shopping
• Personal care
• Domestic support
• Wellbeing checks
• Help getting out and about
• Support after a hospital discharge
At Your Care, we support older people and families across Bristol, South Gloucestershire and the surrounding areas with flexible home support built around the individual.
Whether you are just starting to explore options or you feel like your loved one needs more regular support, we are always happy to talk things through.
Need help finding the right support for your loved one?
Get in touch with Your Care today and we can help you explore what might work best for your family. Call us now.
