Why so many older people feel invisible… and what helps
The small moments that make a big difference in later life
Across Norfolk, community and volunteer groups are telling us the same thing: for older people, it is not always the big moments that are hardest. It is the long stretches between them. The days when the phone does not ring. The weeks without a reason to leave the house. For many, loneliness is made worse by rising costs, poor transport, hearing loss, bereavement or caring responsibilities. These pressures can also overlap, shrinking people’s worlds further still.
We hear that what older people need most is somewhere welcoming to go, familiar faces, and support that does not feel like a service. Small, regular opportunities to connect can make the difference between coping and withdrawing.
Partnering for Impact
Through the Connecting Older People Fund, we listen closely to what communities are experiencing and back local groups who are already responding. The Fund is a partnership between Norfolk Community Foundation and The Mercers’ Company, bringing together local insight with long‑term funding support to reduce loneliness and poverty among older people.
This funding helps community and voluntary groups do what they do best: bring people together. Funding allows groups to adapt quickly as needs change, and to focus on people who might otherwise be missed. For many organisations, multi‑year funding has been particularly important. It gives them confidence to invest in relationships, volunteers and partnerships, knowing they can be here for people not just right now, but in the following years, too.
“Even if I am not having the best day, I know I can come along, be myself and be around people who understand.”
“When the door shuts here on Wednesday I’m looking forward to the next Monday… It’s benefited me tremendously.”
“The group has become a real social outlet and I’ve made some great friends through it.”
Local stories of connection
In Dereham, Love Dereham’s community lunches and community fridge create a shared table where people look out for one another. At one lunch, a man who had recently lost his wife arrived alone. Another guest quietly moved seats to sit with him for the whole meal. These small acts of kindness are made possible because there is a place for people to gather regularly.
In North Norfolk, Hear for Norfolk’s Cuppa Care bus brings support directly into villages. For people with hearing loss, isolation can creep in gradually as conversations become harder. A cup of tea, a working hearing aid and time to talk help people rebuild confidence and stay connected to their communities. One man, recovering from a stroke, described how a simple conversation helped him feel “not on the scrap heap” and ready to re‑engage with local life.
What this tells us about need
These stories tell us that the most effective responses are local, relational and consistent. They are led by people who know their communities and notice when someone stops turning up.
Our partnership with The Mercers’ Company allows us to focus funding where it will have the greatest impact, guided by evidence and lived experience. Together, we will continue to prioritise community‑rooted work that brings people together and helps older people stay connected, valued and part of the places they call home.
