In Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Older People the World Health Organisation states, ‘social isolation and loneliness among older people are growing public health and public policy concerns which have been made more salient by the COVID-19 pandemic’. The brief notes ‘the social groups at greater risk of social isolation and loneliness include…older people in residential and nursing care' and that social isolation and loneliness ‘can be reduced through...interventions such as…befriending.’

We: • recruit and train volunteers to offer friendship and company to residents at risk of loneliness, who would otherwise have no or few visitors. . After initial training we provide ongoing support by means of bimonthly coffee mornings, telephone, email and personal meeting. • work in partnership with other local organisations to provide residents with opportunities to socialise and participate through group activities designed to promote wellbeing and ‘togetherness’.