Nine national organisations are working together
to launch the Commission on
Loneliness[i].
Age UK, Alzheimer’s Society, British Red Cross,
Campaign to End Loneliness, Eden Project Communities, Gransnet,
Independent Age, Royal Voluntary Service and The Silver Line are
working collaboratively to raise public awareness of loneliness
and encourage everyone to act to tackle it.
DATE: Monday 20th March 2017
TIME: 9-11am. Please
note, the panel presentation will start promptly
at 9:30am.
LOCATION: Skills for Care,
Lynton House, 4th floor, 7-12 Tavistock Square, WC1H 9LT.
Please sign in at reception and proceed up the
4th floor.
WHAT: There are 1.2
million older people who are chronically
lonely[ii], and half a million people over 60 usually spend every day
alone.[iii]
New research will be published to mark the
launch of the Commission on Loneliness spotlight
on older people. New figures will reveal just how many
older people hide their feelings of loneliness, don’t speak about
it and don’t know where to turn to for help and support.
Lara Crisp, Editor of
Gransnet[iv],
will present the research findings on a panel also comprising of
Laura Alcock-Ferguson, Executive Director for Campaign to End
Loneliness[v], and MPs (Labour) and (Conservative) who both
co-chair the Commission. A Q&A session will follow.
Please contact the Age UK media team
(details as above) to register your interest and/ or confirm your
attendance.
The Commission on Loneliness is working
with the following partners – Action for Children, Age UK,
Alzheimer’s Society, The British Red Cross, Campaign to End
Loneliness, Carers UK, The Co-op, Eden Project Communities,
Independent Age, Refugee Action, Royal Voluntary Service, Sense
and The Silver Line.
Throughout 2017 the Commission will focus on
loneliness as it affects different members of society including
older people, men, people with disabilities, carers, refugees,
children and parents. The spotlight on older people will be
from Monday 20th March –
23rd April 2017.
[i]The
Commission on Loneliness was
started by MP before her murder in June 2016. Jo
was passionate about the issue of loneliness, and in her memory,
the Commission is now being taken forward by MP (Labour, Leeds West) and
MP (Conservative, South
Ribble). The Commission aims not to simply highlight the issue of
loneliness, but more importantly act as a call to action. Under
the slogan ‘start a conversation’, its goal is to mobilise us all
to help our neighbours, family and friends – whether it be
talking to a neighbour, visiting an old friend, or just making
time for the people you meet.
[ii] Marmot, M., Oldfield, Z., Clemens, S., Blake, M.,
Phelps, A., Nazroo, J., Steptoe, A., Rogers, N., Banks, J.,
Oskala, A. (2016). English Longitudinal Study of Ageing:
Waves 0-7, 1998-2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.5255/UKDA-SN-5050-12.
Figures extrapolated by Age UK to national population using
latest ONS Population Estimates.
[iii] Approx. 498,000 people aged 60+. TNS polling for Age
UK, Nov 2016 – sample of 2,241 people aged 60+ in the UK.
[iv] Gransnet.com is a social networking site
for the over 50s and a recognised champion for digital inclusion.
Gransnet is honoured to be part of the Commission on Loneliness. Isolation
can affect older people acutely, and we've got a few ideas up our
sleeve that we hope will contribute to making the UK a warmer and
more welcoming environment for empty-nesters, older people living
on their own, and anyone affected by poor health or limited
mobility.
[v] Laura has been the Executive Director of the Campaign
to End Loneliness from its very beginning in 2010. In her role
she has overseen the growth and development of the Campaign which
has put the issue of loneliness in the national spotlight through
building a campaign network and sharing learning and knowledge on
loneliness amongst the Campaign’s thousands of supporters. Now,
following a £2.7m Big Lottery Award, Laura and the team are
taking the Campaign to the next level with the aim of making
loneliness everyone’s business.
