Loneliness is as big a killer as obesity and as dangerous to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

It is an issue for people in later life in the UK. Half of all people aged 75 and over live alone, and one in 10 people aged 65 or over say they are always or often feel lonely – that’s just over a million people.

That is according to a study of three million people, conducted at Brigham Young University in Utah.

That is why there is a small group of people in Southend that know how important it is to offer services to older people, making sure they are supported.

AGE Concern Southend is a small, stand-alone charity based in Westcliff offering services to the over sixties within the Southend Council area.

Not linked to any other organisation, and receiving minimal funding from the Council, they rely on the support of the community who help through donations and a team of volunteers who work tirelessly to help provide our services.

Lin Boulter has been the chief executive for Age Concern for just over two years.

Talking about her role, the 58-year-old said: “I was working at South East Essex Partnership Trust and interviewed the chief executive Dr Patrick Geoghegan for Investors in People.

“He started to talk to me about loneliness in the elderly and about his venture with Esther Rantzen – which turned out to be Silverline.

“He told me a couple of anecdotes- the old lady who rings a company’s phone on a Sunday just to hear the answerphone- and I was hooked.

“I started looking for a volunteering role and this position happened to be advertised at the same time.

“Having always worked in corporate organisations, it was a steep learning curve to be part of a charity, but working with my team and our brilliant volunteers has proved to be the best job I’ve ever had.”

Talking about the services the charity offer, Ms Boulter said: “We offer a friendship- befriending service where we currently have 110 volunteers visiting 118 older people with is fantastic; however a drop in the ocean when you consider the number of lonely and isolated older people within the Borough.

“We aim to provide comfort, friendship and practical help to who feel lonely or isolated.

“Weekly contact also enables the volunteer to monitor their well-being. This is an invaluable service in that any signs of deterioration in the health of the older person can be reported to the appropriate authority at the earliest possible stage. “

The charity have recently introduced telephone befriending, giving older residents that extra opportunity to have contact with someone.

Ms Boulter said: “Another key service we offer is our volunteer drivers’ service. 16 brilliant volunteer drivers take our older residents to medical appointments, clubs, day centres, shopping or visiting loved ones in homes or hospitals.

“This service not only ensures that older people don’t have to worry about getting to their medical appointment on time and know we’re going to take them back home too.

Tony Tanner, 66, from Leigh, has been a volunteer befriender and driver with the charity for eight years.

He said: “I like helping others and really enjoy meeting older people. I’ve been told ‘I make a difference’ which is a lovely feeling.

“I also get a great feeling of satisfaction knowing that I’m helping them and as a volunteer, I get as much out of it as they do.

“The older people I drive around and my 94 year gentleman I visit tell me that they don’t feel so isolated knowing me and the rest of the team are at the end of a phone.

“Volunteers really do make a difference to people’s lives”

“AGE Concern Southend can only deliver its services with the help of its brilliant team of volunteers,” added Ms Boulter.

If you would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer; or if you know of an older resident of Southend who would benefit from the services, contact 01702 345373.