V!va

Britain appoints a Minister of Loneliness to tackle the challenges of social isolation affecting more than 9million people in the country. According to research, around 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month and up to 85% of young disabled adults - 18-34 year olds - feel lonely. Loneliness has also been described as a "hidden epidemic" affecting people across all ages at various moments in their life.