Young people are helping to lead the fight against loneliness in Hertfordshire after home-care provider Abbots Care delivered more than 100 hours of volunteer companionship to vulnerable people in the community.
Nearly a third of the hours were provided by volunteers under the age of 29, as part of the organisation’s award-winning Tackling Loneliness campaign.
The milestone surpasses Abbots Care’s latest target and builds on its 2025 achievement of securing 100 hours of companionship, demonstrating growing cross-generational support to combat social isolation.
The announcement comes as the Liberal Democrats argue that hobbies and shared interests could be key to addressing the UK’s loneliness crisis. The party has proposed £42 million to extend opening hours at community spaces such as libraries and community centres, alongside a £40 million one-off fund to support hobby groups with outreach and equipment.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “Sharing a passion with others in your community is one of the most powerful ways to fight loneliness.”
According to the Office for National Statistics, 33% of Britons aged 16 to 29 report feeling lonely “often, always or some of the time” – highlighting both the scale of the issue and the importance of intergenerational connection.
Abbots Care’s volunteers provide regular visits, conversation and shared activities for people who may otherwise have limited social contact – helping to boost confidence, wellbeing and independence at home.
Camille Leavold MBE, CEO of Abbots Care, said:
“We are incredibly proud to have reached more than 100 hours of companionship – and especially proud that so many young people are stepping forward to make a difference.
“When generations connect through conversation, shared interests or hobbies, it can be transformative. Tackling loneliness isn’t just about care provision – it’s about community.”
The milestone follows a recent visit from Daisy Cooper MP, Member of Parliament for St Albans and Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats, who visited Abbots Care’s headquarters and joined care workers on community visits.
Following her visit, Daisy Cooper MP said:
“Care workers look after our loved ones with dignity and compassion, yet so much of what they do goes unseen.
“If we want every vulnerable person to receive the care they need, we must get serious about long-term funding for social care. Seeing Abbots Care’s work first-hand has strengthened my determination to push for reform.”
Abbots Care has been delivering community-based care for over 30 years. The organisation supports more than 1,300 clients and delivers over 7,500 home visits each week across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Dorset. Abbots Care is rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in Hertfordshire.
