Fifteen areas in England today share in £82 million from the Big Lottery Fund to reduce the social isolation of up to 200,000 older people, including £15, 326,869 for two projects in the North West. The money is being awarded through the Fund’s Ageing Better programme. The funding will also help pave the way for support for future older generations.

The consequences of social isolation are poor physical and mental health for individuals, less active citizens and a need for more costly services. The Fund wants to help tackle this and over the six years of the £82 million Ageing Better investment, partnerships in the fifteen areas will test what methods work and what don’t, so that successful approaches can be replicated across the country.

More people are at risk of becoming isolated as the population of older people grows, lacking contact with family or friends, community involvement or…