Today sees the launch of the ‘Silver Line’ – 0800 328 8888. This is a telephone service which aims to counteract loneliness in older people.

Following the success of the ‘Child Line’, Esther Rantzen has received funding from the Big Lottery Fund to set up a helpline for older people. A pilot scheme funded by Comic relief has been running for a year and has proved to be popular. Alongside the helpline 0800 4 70 80 90, volunteers are receiving training to become Silver Line Friends providing a telephone befriending service similar to that already run by Age UK.