Just Call




Be More Us is about making connections. And now more than ever, those connections matter. 

But for many people who don’t have access to the internet or smartphones, this can be difficult.

For a lot of older people the phone is the easiest, most accessible way to keep in touch.

While the number of older people using digital technology continues to grow, only 1 in 5 older people own a smartphone, meaning video call and messaging apps might not be available to them.

There is a huge digital divide, and many older people can feel left out. 

That’s why we’re launching a new campaign, Just Call, encouraging all of us to continue to pick up the phone to help the people we care about feel less isolated, even as the lockdown eases.

Our survey says…

We ran a survey of 1000 people in the UK* and found that for people of all ages, a phone call is their favourite way to keep in touch during the lockdown.

Text reads: For people of all ages, a phone call is our favoueite way ti keep in touch during lockdown

34% of people in the UK told us prefer using the phone to keep in touch with friends, family and neighbours. This rises to 54% when we asked over 75 year olds.

The good news is that despite the huge rise in video-conferencing app downloads, such as Zoom and Houseparty, over three quarters (86%) of people are turning to the humble phone call to stay connected.

Digital technology

Digital technology is amazing for those people who can and want to use it. More and more apps are being designed to be more inclusive and accessible to people with impairments and that’s a great thing. 

But our survey found that messaging apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger aren’t used by over a quarter of people (28%) and over a third of people (34%) say they aren’t using video calls apps like Skype and Zoom. 

84% of people in the UK feel that digital technology helps them feel connected with their, friends family and neighbours. This dropped to 74% when we asked people over 75 years old. 

We’re not saying anyone should stop using technology all together, but think about how you can include people of all ages in the quizzes and catch ups that help us feel connected during isolation and beyond. 

There’s something about a phone call that feels personal and private. It feels like it’s okay to open up. It’s often the place where the conversations that really matter happen. 

And connecting with people isn’t just about sharing how hard and heavy things have been. “Laughing about something’ and “Sharing memories” were the things people said that helped improve their mood when they chatted with friends, family and neighbours. 

Haven’t spoken to a friend for a while?

Know someone who might live alone?

Need someone to talk to?

Just Call.

 

We’re more connected than ever

While the Coronavirus pandemic has been a huge challenging time for all of us, our survey also pointed to some silving linings. 

It’s clear millions of us have made an extra effort to keep in touch and stay connected:

  • 53% of people in the UK feel more connected to their friends, neighbours and family since the start of Coronavirus
  • 96% of people in the UK feel they have people in their lives (friends, family, neighbours) who they can ask for help, support and advice when needed.
  • 92% of people in the UK feel that their friends, neighbours and family are looking out for them and are taking the time to check in and stay in touch.
  • 42% of British adults are checking in with friends, family and neighbours several times a day. 29% are doing so at least once a day.

Thinking about the future

Our next challenge is to maintain this feeling of connectedness as lockdown is eased for some people.

For many people in the UK, life won’t ‘return to normal’ for quite some time.

For some people who are lonely, lockdown is not too dissimilar from their ordinary lives.

It’s vital that we keep up our daily catch-ups and make the effort to keep in touch and connected. Loneliness was here before the pandemic and it will be there for many of us after it. 

But it’s also important we plan for the future. And think about how we want our society to look when all of this is over. Being more connected is just the start. 

Let’s be more connected.

Let’s be more together.

Let’s Be More Us. 

*A telephone survey was undertaken by Survation on behalf of Campaign to End Loneliness between 11-14 May 2020. We polled 1000 participants over the age of 18 based in the UK. Data were weighted to the profile of all adults in the UK aged 18+. Data were weighted by age, sex, and region. Targets for the weighted data were derived from Office for National Statistics Data.