A NEW initiative to help lonely people in the county has been launched by the Co-operative, Usk and the British Red Cross.

Last Wednesday (4th November) staff collected funds from their customers to help support the charity that tackles loneliness and social isolation.

The Co-operative will be supporting the British Red Cross as their charity of the year and staff will be holding raffles and finding various ways of supporting this worthy cause.

Store manager of Usk Co-operative, Alyson Meade, said: “By holding days like this we’re able to build awareness for people suffering loneliness.

“We’re conscious as staff that we could be the only people some of our customers see that day and there are probably a lot of people in the area who are isolated.

“That’s why it’s so important to raise funds and hold events for this great cause.”

For more information about the British Red Cross, visit: www.redcross.org.uk