Help us tell the real stories of loneliness and help force change

THE VOICES of people who are lonely and living in isolation are being used by The Yorkshire Post to force change in tackling the issue.
Photo: Peter Byrne/PA WirePhoto: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Photo: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

Our campaign, Loneliness: the Hidden Epidemic has achieved great strides in highlighting the issue of loneliness and the way it blights the region’s communities since its launch in February.

But we want to take the issue to the next level and create a campaign that is impossible to ignore, and we’d like your help.

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The Yorkshire Post is building an audio archive of real people telling their experiences of loneliness.

We know it affects more than 90,000 older people in Yorkshire, but we want to hear your story, whatever age you are. Loneliness and isolation can affect anyone in all sorts of circumstances.

Since the campaign’s launch, four local authorities that have previously come under fire have pledged action in tackling loneliness, and many of our readers have volunteered for support services.

Nicola Furbisher, managing editor of The Yorkshire Post, said: “We want to build an archive of audio stories made with the voices of people who are lonely and living in isolation, an archive that will make the authorities stand up, listen, and act.

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“We think this project will be hugely impactful - and will perhaps bring about changes in attitudes and provoke action far more quickly than statistics ever can. And we would like to hear from readers who would like to take part.

“We’re aware of the difficulty and perceived stigma that still exists in admitting to being lonely, so please be assured we are promising absolute confidentiality: just a first name and your age would be broadcast.”

The Yorkshire Post’s journalist Lindsay Pantry and David Clay would speak to you, either in person or over the telephone, and will do their best to put you at ease.

If you would like to be involved and help us fight Loneliness: The Hidden Epidemic, please either email [email protected] or write to The Yorkshire Post, No 1 Leeds, 26 Whitehall Road, Leeds, LS12 1BE. Please include a telephone number. You can also call Lindsay on 01132 388422. All calls will be treated in confidence.

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