The charity , which relies entirely on donations in order to keep the helpline running 24 hours a day , seven days a week and 365 days a year , offers information , advice and friendship . Dame Esther said :
“ Since the death of my husband Desmond Wilcox , I know what it ’ s like to feel lonely – and so I also know what a difference it makes to be able to speak to a friendly voice .”
“ Many people who call The Silver Line have led fascinating lives but now find themselves alone , often because they have lost a partner or other loved one .”
“ There is still a stigma to admitting you ’ re lonely , but I believe we should all be honest about our loneliness , so that others can help .”
In addition to the charity ’ s helpline , services offered by The Silver Line include :
ONE MILLION CALLS AND COUNTING ....
In August , The Silver Line received its one millionth call to the helpline since the national launch in November 2013 .
The millionth call came on a record-breaking day for the 24-hour helpline with over 1,600 calls received from older people , out-stripping the previous highest number of calls on New Year ’ s Day 2016 . Over two-thirds of calls to the helpline are made at night or at weekends – The Silver Line is there when other services for older people aren ’ t – and over half say they literally have no one else to speak to .
The growing demand from lonely older people means The Silver Line now needs to raise £ 1.65 million to pay for the night-time and weekends service . The charity says that without more public donations the vital service may have to close .
Just £ 5 pays for a call from an older person to the helpline . If you would like to make a donation , please call : 020 7224
2020 or visit : www . thesilverline . org . uk / donate
• Telephone friendship : a weekly 30-minute chat on the telephone with a volunteer Silver Line Friend who is matched to an older person based on similar interests ;
• Silver Letters : an exchange of regular letters between an older person and a volunteer ; and
• Silver Circles : a regular group call on a range of subjects that interest the callers .
If you are interested in joining one of the services , or you would like to find out more , please call the helpline on :
0800 4 70 80 90 or visit : www . thesilverline . org . uk
COULD YOU GIVE JUST 30 MINUTES A WEEK ?
With hundreds of Silver Liners ( older people ) waiting for a friendship call , The Silver Line urgently needs more volunteer Silver Line Telephone Friends . Training for the role is quick and easy , and once matched , you will need to give just 30 minutes a week to chat to a Silver Liner on the telephone .
Calls between volunteers and Silver Liners are completely free and are made using a secure online call system – so no contact details are ever exchanged .
“ That half an hour on the phone with my Silver Line Friend is my favourite time of the week . It has made a huge difference to my life as she is often the only person I talk to all week .” Silver Liner
To find out more about becoming a Silver Line Telephone Friend , email : volunteering @ TheSilverLine . org . uk ; call 020 7224 2020 or go to the website : www . thesilverline . org . uk
Your health choices 9