In the UK around 14% of the population are alone or feel lonely. That is more than one in eight people. We are the first country in the world to have a minister for loneliness and her name is Tracey Crouch. It is a project that was first started by the late great MP Jo Cox. A study in America showed that loneliness is to your life expectancy the equivalent of smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

In a world where we are more connected than ever through smart phones and social media, people should not feel alone. The elderly, the young, war veterans, the vulnerable and the strong can all be lonely. Loneliness does not discriminate, it is something that can affect us all. We as a society can fix this problem. You can make a difference.

Why is this so important to me?

I was adopted at a very young age and due to this breaking down, I ended up in care. This was life changing for me. I could not handle it, my life spiralled to homeliness, drugs and alcohol. All of this happened before I was sixteen. In my younger adult years, even in relationships I was alone. Drugs, drink, make mistakes repeat until I was in 31. This was the time that I began to take control of my life, also because I had been in a relationship with someone for 5 years. I stopped drugs, alcohol, smoking and my life was on track. I did gain a few pounds but I became a support worker. I had the chance to help people who were in the same position as I had been in. Then everything came crashing down and I was diagnosed with epilepsy. It turned out that this was wrong and I was having seizures because I was on to much medication. I ballooned in weight to a massive 22 stone plus. I had to revaluate what was important to me. So I began a life changing journey which has helped me loose over 5 stone and get to a point where I can make a difference again. But what would I do?

I went down to my local shop a month ago and bumped into an elderly woman I had not seen for approximately eighteen months. She was underweight and far from the strong confident woman that I had seen those many months ago. I started speaking to her and it turned out that her husband had dies fourteen months ago. She had no one and no where to turn. The elderly woman had felt like dying but was to scared to say anything. I could relate to the feeling of what she was going through. So my partner and I did what we could for her but it was not enough. I thought to myself if I had played a bigger part in my community then this would not of happened. So I decided to do something about it.

I have decide that I am going to do everything I can to help end loneliness by raising as much money as possible and working with local councils, organisations to create a way of visiting, creating groups and individuals that need someone to talk to. Also find a way of having a dedicated line that people can text and call when they are feeling alone.

We as individuals in society can make a difference. Just remember during holidays, birthdays and especially around Christmas people are at their loneliest and depression along with other conditions can kick in. So please I am asking you to help me make a difference. I would like to grow this into something that can help people everywhere. Your donation and shares will help make a difference. Together we can end loneliness.