• AS our society gets older, loneliness and social isolation will become ever-pressing issues. I’m pleased to see newspapers and maga­zines raise awareness of the problem, and loneliness is even tackled by the current best-selling book, ‘Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine‘.

The harm caused by loneliness and social isolation isn’t confined to just physical health benefits. These are issues that can have a devastating impact on a person’s quality of life, too.

Following the release of a report by the Jo Cox commission on loneliness, the first ever minister for loneliness was appointed in January. Here in Camden, residents are calling for more action – corroborating the comments I heard at the Camden 2025 public meeting at Hampstead Community Centre.

Despite the pressures that the aging population puts on adult social care, other councils have implemented innovative ways to help. The Local Government Association and Age UK recommend many practical and cost-effective steps that councils can take to combat loneliness.

They give one example of best practice from Conservative-run Kensington & Chelsea. Due its older population, Kensington & Chelsea spends more on adult social care than Camden, and so has looked for new ways to work with volunteers and partner organisations.

This led to the creation of the Age UK shopping service, providing elderly residents with transport and volunteer support for a four-hour shopping trip.

The service costs Kensington & Chelsea £15 per trip, but that’s actually less than the cost of providing in-home care for the same few hours. Not only does this help vulnerable people get out and socialise but it saves money to be reinvested into the service, too.

Camden Conservatives have made a number of proposals to tackle the issues of loneliness and social isolation of schemes. We will launch a scheme to vet prospective lodgers on request, to help older residents let out unused rooms.

We will encourage inter-generational volunteering, especially among our schoolchildren and university students. And we’ll follow best practice from other boroughs to provide a range of activities for residents.

I’m glad that social isolation has risen up the agenda: with popular culture and politics finally catching up with what health care professionals already knew. There are concrete steps Camden can take to end loneliness – all Conservatives elected in May will work tirelessly to make that a reality.

MARIA HIGSON
Conservative candidate for Hampstead Town ward