“Giving loneliness a voice” is the theme for Loneliness Awareness Week this year, reminding us that loneliness is something we all experience, yet too often do not speak about. Research shows that 85% of UK adults have experienced loneliness in the last twelve months [1], yet 61% of those people have never told anyone, often due to stigma or fear of judgement [2]. That is why accepting loneliness as a natural human experience matters. Simply acknowledging it helps people feel less alone and more able to reach out.
While loneliness can affect anyone, many older people face profound isolation, often shaped by life changes such as bereavement, reduced mobility, or loss of daily social contact. In the UK, half a million older people go five or six days a week without speaking to anyone, highlighting the scale of hidden loneliness in later life [1].
Our Community Connectors service seeks to address this by encouraging open conversations, building confidence and making connection feel possible again. Our work is grounded in listening and understanding individual experiences and using these insights to inform change. A recent Report we published brought together findings from initial project research which had highlighted several key issues facing older people. These insights provide a foundation for action to overcome these barriers and improve accessibility for older people to reduce loneliness and isolation.
Loneliness is deeply personal, shaped by life changes, health, mobility, or a mismatch between the connections someone has and those they need. And these experiences are not always visible. By opening up conversations around the topic, we begin to reduce the stigma, encouraging people to express how they are really feeling, and experience more connection with others.
Our approach is not about offering a single solution, but about building meaningful, person-led connections rooted in what matters to each individual. Even small, everyday interactions can have a meaningful impact. Simply talking to someone new can make people feel less lonely, with over half reporting improved mood after small moments of connection [3]. We take time to understand people’s circumstances, interests and barriers – whether that’s transport, confidence, or life changes – and tailor support accordingly, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all model.
The urgency of this work is clear. Loneliness is now recognised as a significant public health issue, with long-term effects comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day and linked to increased risks of serious health conditions. It also has a wider impact on society, with disconnected communities estimated to cost the UK economy £32 billion each year [1].
Giving loneliness a voice is not just about raising awareness it is about creating the conditions for people to be heard and supported. Through listening, understanding, reducing stigma, and enabling meaningful connections, Community Connectors plays a vital role in helping people feel seen, valued, and more connected.
Loneliness Awareness Week is hosted by the Marmalade Trust.
[1] Marmaladetrust.org Loneliness in numbers | Marmalade Trust
[2] ipsos.com, 2025. New research reveals 3 in 5 UK adults who have ever experienced loneliness have never opened up about it | Ipsos
[3]PR Newswire, 2024. HEINEKEN UK and Marmalade Trust release new research around Loneliness Awareness Week
