Campaign highlighting plight of the lonely in running for top honour

The campaign, which aims to see loneliness universally recognised as a health priority and to encourage more people to volunteer and offer support, has been nominated in a national contest for highlighting the work which local newspapers do in their communities.

You can add your voice and help us win by voting at www.localnewspaperweek.co.uk, but online voting closes at midnight tomorrow. The winner will be announced on Friday.

Since its launch in February, the campaign has been backed by high profile MPs, community and charity figures and sparked interest in volunteering across the region.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham all backed the campaign.

And Silver Line founder Esther Rantzen called it “brilliant”, adding her voice to the call for volunteers.

The campaigns manager for the Campaign to End Loneliness, Jack Neill-Hall, said the organisation was overjoyed the paper had been recognised for its important work on this issue.

He said: “We are already seeing improvements and investment going into loneliness services across the region and The Yorkshire Post has had no small part to play in this. It just goes to show how much of a role local newspapers have to play in campaigning journalism.”

A Press which can make a difference: Page 11.