A TEENAGER is hoping to set up a meeting place for lonely and vulnerable people after witnessing the scale of the problem whilst working in a charity shop.

Chloe Prior, 18, from East Hendred, is searching for a location for a new ‘hub’, where people can be offered a cup of tea and a friendly chat to help them relax and feel less lonely.

Ms Prior, who works in the Changing Lives charity shop in Didcot, was prompted to take action after coming across a customer alone and asleep on a bench late at night.

The woman, who has dementia, lived on her own with no family and Ms Prior said she felt there was no one she could contact who could help.

The elderly woman, who has now been taken into a care home, was seen on other nights walking head on into traffic.

Ms Prior added: “I tried waking her up but it took a lot to get her in my car to take her home.

“She was laughing at herself and couldn’t remember where she lived.

“Eventually we got her home, I was so concerned I rang 999 but they couldn’t help as she wasn’t injured in anyway.

“It was very worrying and had a big impact on me and is a major reason why I now want to set up the meeting place.

“Even if we are not able to help people directly we can be a place where they come and get signposted to the support they need.”

Ms Prior is aiming to create the new space for over 18s.

It would welcome people from the local community who are lonely, struggling or vulnerable.

She proposes to run the social club with a team of volunteers and also visit people in their homes to help with daily chores.

She said: “There are so many people who come in to the shop who are lonely.

“We felt that there were very few people out there who can help them.

“It’s a real missing link in the community and no place offers this kind of care.

“We hope this will go a little way to helping make them realise there are people out there who care and want to help them.”

Ms Prior is now searching for a appropriate place to open up the meeting space and is appealing for people to come forward with suggestions.

She said: “We just need a small building to begin with to help us find our feet and get our name out there.

“As soon as we have a location it will be full steam ahead.

“This really needs to happen and as soon as possible because I strongly believe that loneliness is a killer.”

To support the project email chloe.prior@hotmail.co.uk