Lessons from a voluntary sector organisation working to address loneliness and isolation amongst older people during the Covid-19 pandemic

Loneliness and isolation are growing public health concerns in the UK. The Covid-19 pandemic and physical distancing policies have created a range of challenges for Voluntary Sector and Community Organisations (VSCOs) addressing isolation and loneliness among older people. This paper explores four learning points from one VSCO, Time to Shine, working to reduce loneliness amongst older people in a Covid19 world: using technology; finding the ‘hard to reach’; tackling ageism; and managing anxiety following isolation.