TOWIE’s Jess & Carol Wright on Gateway 97.8

Over 1.2 million older people in England are ‘chronically lonely’, and 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with friends or family for a month, according to Age UK. But loneliness can affect people of all ages, and on World Kindness Day (Wednesday 13th November), research sheds light on how kind we are as a society and the importance of befriending services to help us connect to each other.

Being part of a community and building friendships can make people happier and healthier. However, despite the need to interact, 63% of people admitted they could be better at staying in touch with those they haven’t seen for a while and 53% agreed they could make more time for close family and friends.

Acts of kindness, and befriending projects in particular, can be the only ways some of the most isolated people gain companionship and, despite the average person marking themselves 7.3 out of 10 for kindness, 52% agreed they could be kinder in their day to day life. Over a third (35%) felt they could do more to help isolated or vulnerable people in their community.

Aston spoke to Jess & Carol Wright, TOWIE (The Only Way Is Essex) cast members about their visit to The Warm and Toasty Club (a befriending project for over 60’s in Colchester, Essex) and they also discussed the research in further detail.