London Older Peoples Strategies Group

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, today called on Londoners to volunteer their time through his Team London programme to help vulnerable, lonely neighbours, as he joined a Contact the Elderly tea party supporting isolated older people in the capital.

Recent research shows at least 75,000 people, over the age of 75, are living lonely lives in London, and that this problem is only set to grow, as the number of Londoners over the age of 90 is predicted to increase by 95 per cent over the next 20 years.

On 30 June, Mayor Boris Johnson launched Team London, the Mayor's ambitious scheme to transform the city by getting thousands more Londoners volunteering.

The £4.5 million programme will mobilise more than 10,000 volunteers across initiatives that will impact upon some of London's most pressing issues: reducing crime, increasing youth opportunities and improving quality of life by building stronger neighbourhoods and improving the environment. The Mayor wants to create an army of community spirited volunteers who will become leaders of uniformed youth groups, mentors, sports coaches, and literacy champions, help green London through planting trees and support learning activities for older people.