​​Worthing's leading social care charity Guild Care calls for collective commitment to end social isolation

Guild Care launched its Social Impact Report at Worthing Town Hall on Friday to an audience including East Worthing and Shoreham MP Tim Loughton, Worthing mayor Jon Roser, town crier Bob Smytherman and NHS representatives.

Chief executive Alex Brooks-Johnson said: "We are really struggling with the impact of a growing population and a growing population that is getting older.

"Worthing in particular is at the leading edge of social isolation and we can clearly see the impact that is having on older people.

"What we are calling for today is a collective commitment to end social isolation. We need to come together to form a single voice on this very important issue.

"If we can collectively agree to end social isolation, I think we can do that and we can make Worthing the best town in the UK to grow old in."

The report looked at how the charity's Creating Connections service has been reducing social isolation since it was introduced two years ago.

Mr Brooks-Johnson said: "Since Creating Connections was set up, demand has increased enormously, showing the hidden scale of the issue.

"Older people in particular are vulnerable to this awful thing. Growing isolation should not be an inevitable part of growing older."

Creating Connections offers befriending, group activities, bereavement support, physical activity, hot meals, transport and signposting.

The service reached 533 people in 2023 and Guild Care has plans to reach many more in years to come, as many as 8,000 in a few years time.