A Silver Line to combat loneliness as winter draws near

Esther Rantzen launched Big Lottery funded The Silver Line - the telephone line has been described as a 'lifeline for older people'.

The £5 million project will give befriending support and advice 24 hours a day to older people suffering loneliness, neglect or abuse. The Silver Line will also connect individuals to local services and activities, in the same way that ChildLine did, also founded by Esther 27 years ago.

Esther said, "Loneliness is, according to the Department of Health, as dangerous as smoking or obesity. Mentally and emotionally, it is utterly destructive. This is the generation that does not readily ask for help. They don’t want to be a burden. But loneliness is a creeping enemy, it isolates, erodes confidence, until it becomes more and more difficult to step outside the front door.”

Miss Rantzen has been at the centre of all media activity singing the new telephone number on the Today programme, BBC News, regional BBC radio stations and presenting a special That’s Life edition of The One Show.

The Silver Line Number is 0800 4 70 80 90 - open 24 hours a day, every day.