‘So Much Joy’: Volunteers Fight Loneliness Among Older People This Summer
Aging can be isolating enough, but when summer routines fall apart—carers on holiday, day centers closed, neighbors away—the silence can grow louder. That’s why Age UK Norfolk has launched Together This Summer, a campaign to keep older people connected when their usual social anchors drift.
The initiative encourages neighbors to check in on older adults and recruits volunteers to become “befrienders”—people who commit to a simple, regular phone call. For volunteer Bethany Victory, those 20 minutes each week have turned into something far deeper.
“The person I call lives entirely alone. At the start of the call, you can hear they’re feeling a bit flat. But by the end, they’re laughing,” Victory said. “They say, ‘You’ve really brightened my day. I feel so much happier now.’”
Victory, whose father died in 2023, had long wanted to volunteer but struggled to find something that fit her busy schedule. The weekly phone call, she said, fit perfectly. What began as a simple check-in has blossomed into a genuine friendship—one that brings her “so much joy.”
The person she calls is largely housebound due to mobility issues, with a life that revolves around medical appointments. Without Victory’s call, that person might go days without meaningful conversation. And Victory says the feeling is mutual: “It’s given me so much joy to provide someone with company.”
Jo Asbury, head of community and wellbeing at Age UK Norfolk, explained that loneliness doesn’t take a holiday—and summer can actually make things worse. “Older people whose routines or social contact change can feel even more isolated when everyone else seems to be off enjoying themselves,” she said.
The campaign comes amid growing awareness of the health impacts of chronic loneliness—linked to depression, cognitive decline, and even a higher risk of heart disease. Experts say even a brief, consistent human connection can make a measurable difference.
Age UK Norfolk is calling for more volunteers and reminding the public that a simple phone call or knock on a neighbor’s door can be a lifeline. For Victory, it’s proof that combating loneliness doesn’t require grand gestures—just a little time and a willingness to listen.
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