John Lewis staff will volunteer and raise funds for Contact the Elderly during 2009.

The department store chose Contact the Elderly as its charity of the year and its staff will join the charity's volunteers, who provide a life line to people aged over 75 by taking them to tea parties and social groups.

Kate Green, corporate affairs director at John Lewis, said: "Contact The Elderly is a charity that matches our values very well. Partners are particularly enthused as their fundraising and volunteering initiatives will benefit the charity not only nationally but they will also be able to make a difference to the local community in which they live and work."