Re-engage is a charity that is positive about older age and committed to fighting loneliness so that people can have social lives and friendship groups however old they are. We inspire and enable meaningful connections and shared experiences within communities across the UK for people over 75 facing loneliness and social isolation.

Our volunteers work together to create better communities and help to enrich the lives of our members by giving them something to look forward to.
Older people who may have felt very alone, now feel valued as individuals, continue to form friendships, and have groups that give support. We make sure that people know they are important well into old age. Respectful, determined, warm, pioneering, and local: we are Re-engage and we are bringing generations together.

As well as our tea parties, activity groups and call companions, we offer a LGBT+ specific service called rainbow call companions. Following the success of our call companions service, we launched rainbow call companions: a free telephone befriending service for LGBT+ people who are lonely, isolated or in need of companionship and feel they would benefit from a friendly phone call every week or two. This is a service specifically for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender plus (LGBT+) people aged 75+ who would like to speak to someone who’s also LGBT+.

Calls last for half an hour or so and you can chat about anything that interests you. What’s great is that the same volunteer phones you every time, so you can get to know each other and share stories and laughter – for as long as you both want.

Rainbow call companions has been awarded by the NHS National Advisor for LGBT Health award (2022), which recognises outstanding work by individuals and groups across the NHS and VCSE sector to improve the experience of LGBT+ patients and the LGBT+ workforce and shine a light on examples of best practice.

“This work takes courage and persistence and I am really grateful for your efforts which, I have no doubt, will have benefitted LGBT individuals greatly.”
Dr Michael Brady FRCP (he/him), National Advisor for LGBT Health, NHS England.

1. All LGBT+ Communities
2. Men
3. People over 50
4. Women