About Oldalone UK
Since loneliness among the growing elderly population is factual, Oldalone UK was created as an initiative to help tackle loneliness among older people through diverse activities. Loneliness tarnishes the lives of elderly people with depression which is known to lower the autoimmune defences in the human body, potentially exposing their sufferers to depression-related ailments.
We are fully aware that without the help of our dear community, we could not achieve as much as we are looking forward to. That is the reason why we are calling on everyone to join our dedicated “caregivers team” of volunteers and help us bring about positive changes on our older people’s lives. Remember: Their present may be our future. We are inviting you to embrace our ideals and pave the way for a fulfilling and happy later life for everyone.
Currently, we are contacting local neighbourhoods, care homes, hospitals and hospices where a significant number of elderly people affected by loneliness reside. Our aim is to befriend and accompany them, to build a friendship based on solid and ethical values where the priority is our older people’s well-being.
There are many simple ways we can all help to make sure everyone enjoys a meaningful later life. Currently, Oldalone UK focuses on the following:
Friendship and companionship
Recreational opportunities and leisure activities
Providing and improving senior citizen’s ICT skills
If you are interested in volunteering with us please download a volunteer form and return it to us. Alternatively, you can fill it online and send us the completed application form via e-mail.
Patron
Lady Pilar Brennan
” Isolation and loneliness are so sad when suffered by the old. Please remember wherever you can to show kindness, sympathy and understanding to the old alone. It is so worthwhile especially when much more people
are now living to older ages than in the past.”
Meet Our Team
Izabela Branisteanu (The Chair)
Izabela is a dedicated teacher with over 20 years of experience working with diverse age groups. Her Eastern European background gives her a deep understanding of the challenges foreigners face when adapting to a new culture.
With a degree in Special Needs Psychology, she has worked with the National Autistic Society and the British Relief Fund for Romania, supporting children in need. Passionate about learning and growth, Izabela is eager to take on new challenges and contribute meaningfully to Oldalone UK. new challenges and she is determined to make a great contribution within Oldalone UK.
Luisa Brands (Chief Executive Officer)
Luisa holds a Master’s degree in International Law and is a Fellow of the Institute of Paralegals (UK) and a Member of the NGO Committee on Ageing at the United Nations in New York. A dedicated Human Rights Advocate, she is committed to fostering age-friendly, inclusive, and equitable communities.
Driven by a deep passion for social justice, Luisa focuses her efforts on supporting the most vulnerable and marginalized individuals in society. In alignment with the mission of Oldalone UK, she is devoted to promoting the care, respect, and dignity that older people deserve, and fully upholds the organization’s core values in her work.
Gonzalo Delgado (Finance Director)
Senior international business leader. A nimble financial executive with vast experience in sales, marketing, finance operations and risk management working across several countries such as Chile, United Kingdom, Poland France and the United States. Gonzalo is an Industrial Engineer and a Master in Business Administration as well as a Master in Business Law. As a treasurer for Oldalone UK, Gonzalo is executing his wide executive-level strategic perspective and applying his experience in leading the way to successful resolutions, transformation and evolution onto the financial management of the organisation.
Christopher Thompson (trustee)
Max has a degree in Art and Design and City and Guilds, a certificate in Theology with an accredited bible school in Northern England, and a Delta diploma in teaching English as a foreign language. He had taught for over twenty years in the UK, Turkey, Israel and Japan.
He is passionate about immersing in various cultures, which he gained by his extensive travelling in over 60 countries. He is an established artist, specialising in watercolor painting and photography. He loves being with people and people love his warmth and generosity.
Ionela Flood (trustee)
She is an economist with studies at ASE Bucharest and Buckinghamshire University, London. She received a scholarship in cultural management from the Ministry of Culture, Romania, in 1999, to study in Italy, Greece, France and Great Britain. She has been living in London since 2001 where she completed a PhD research in Project Management, while developing different projects for Romanians abroad.
Jomhs (trustee)
Jomhs is a dedicated and passionate cultural advocate with extensive experience in organizing and coordinating cultural events that celebrate diversity and heritage. With strong organizational and teamwork skills, he has successfully led dance groups, promoted Ecuadorian traditions, and managed social media and publicity for cultural festivals. His ability to work under pressure, adapt to challenges, and engage with people from diverse backgrounds makes him a valuable asset to community-focused initiatives. As a fluent Spanish speaker and creative writer, Jomhs is committed to fostering cultural identity and inclusion. His deep interests in folk dance, history, and the arts further enrich his contributions.