Paul Farmer
CEO, Age UK
Too many older people feel alone. In the UK, 1.5 million older people in the UK never leave their homes for a social event.1 Silver Sunday aims to tackle this.
One of the most important parts of later life is making, maintaining and sustaining connections. It might be keeping up with friends or meeting new people. Many older people tell me, “It’s what keeps me going.” For many others, that sense of community brings purpose and a sense that you still matter.
Gathering to celebrate older people
You are a part of a wider society. Yet, the reality for too many people is miles from this. One in five older people (2.7 million or 21%) say that they don’t want to burden family and friends by telling them they’re lonely.2
Age UK’s Silver Sunday aims to change that; it’s one of the biggest celebrations of older people in the UK. Held annually on the first Sunday in October, it’s a special time of the year when all generations come together to celebrate older people. We ask people to think about those who might be feeling lonely, giving them the chance to reconnect with their community, try new things and make new friends.
All events are free or low-cost to help
remove any financial barriers that might
discourage people from attending.
An activity for everyone
Last year, hundreds of events took place all over the country. They are run by generous local charities and businesses — each one as vibrant and diverse as their older guests. We expect this year’s celebrations to reach even more people, with a huge variety of activities including history tours at London Zoo, leisure classes with Everyone Active, pond dipping in Devon, walking football in Oxford and a Tea Dance in Wales.
All events are free or low-cost to help remove any financial barriers that might discourage people from attending.
It was a joy to attend Age UK Barnet’s Silver Sunday event last year and see how a single day can make a difference to so many people. There was something for everyone: Bollywood dancing, yoga sessions, choir performances and even a ukulele band. For many of the older guests, having this to look forward to meant the world.
Join the event this October
Isolation isn’t inevitable. Events like Silver Sunday offer more than a rare moment of connection; they’re often a stepping stone for those who have become disconnected from their communities to reintegrate.
Silver Sunday will be going strong for many years to come. Every October, I’ll be looking forward to learning, laughing and dancing at as many activities as I can get to and as I enter my own later life.
Age UK’s Silver Sunday takes place on Sunday, 5th October. To find out more about this year’s event, visit ageuk.org.uk/silver-sunday.
[1] Age UK calculation based on data (weighted to be representative of the UK population) from Yonder online and telephone omnibus research polling for Age UK, November 2023.
[2] Age UK calculation based on data (weighted to be representative of the UK population) from Yonder online and telephone polling for Age UK, November 2024.
