Monday 15th June 2026
Pull up a chair
Pippa Cramer MBE shares the inspiration behind seniors group Connections and The Silver Hope Trust
I have always loved older people. I had incredible grandparents who I adored, and as an occupational therapist I had the privilege of working closely with many who were older, supporting them through illness, recovery, and loss of independence. But alongside the physical needs, there was something deeper, and often harder to name. Loneliness.
Not just being alone – but feeling forgotten. Unseen. Unheard.
And what struck me most was how hidden it was. This is not a generation that complains. Many aren’t online, aren’t posting about how they feel, aren’t asking for help. They carry things quietly, with dignity, but often with great cost.
The statistics are stark. Hundreds of thousands of older people in England go a whole week without speaking to a friend or family member, and nearly a million older people across the UK are often lonely. At the same time, our population is ageing. The need is not shrinking; it is growing.
Behind each number is a story: a woman who cannot remember the last time she heard her name spoken aloud. A man who eats every meal in silence. A widow adjusting not only to grief, but to the shock of a home that has suddenly become unbearably quiet.
And beneath this, another reality: so many older people in our communities have never truly encountered the person of Jesus. This breaks my heart – and I believe it breaks God’s heart too.
So, long before Connections began, I prayed. I spent nine months praying; I asked the Lord for wisdom, who should be involved, how everything should look. I knew that if Connections was going to be anything more than just a nice idea, it had to be completely led by God.
Connections began in 2011 at Holy Trinity Claygate; it started small but over the years it has grown into one of the largest church-based groups for older people in the UK. On Tuesday mornings the church is transformed into a café-style space. There are small tables with flowers for people to sit around, coffee and homemade cakes, activity tables and conversation corners. Nothing flashy. Just warmth, love, welcome and kindness.
Some guests head straight for carpet bowls or ping pong. Others enjoy chair exercises, mini hand massages, browsing special interest tables, or chatting with local organisations or agencies. We have found that these little points of interest matter enormously. They give people something to gather round and make it so much easier for conversation to begin naturally. For those who are shy, grieving, or lacking in confidence, this can make all the difference.
At the heart of each session is a short Thought for the Day – just a few minutes, never heavy, never preachy, but always hopeful. Many of our guests might never walk into a Sunday service. But here, with a wonderful welcome, coffee and cake, in a place where they feel known and safe, the door opens to deeper conversations. Prayer is always offered. And over time, trust grows.
This relational trust has been one of the most beautiful things to witness. Connections has become, for many, the highlight of the week. For some, it is the only time they leave the house. For others, it has become a bridge not only into friendship, but into church, and ultimately, into faith.
“I LOVE Connections, it is the highlight of my week. I wish every day was a Tuesday!”
There have been so many special moments along the way. We have developed the evangelistic series ‘Hymns We Love’ from within Connections, and this gentle, very accessible series, available to purchase from The Good Book Company, has proved to be a wonderful way of reaching those in later life with the gospel.
Over time, as Connections has grown, so did a sense that the Lord might be asking us to share what we had learnt. There are older people in every parish, every town, every community. There are churches full of goodwill that simply need encouragement, vision, and a little practical help to get started.
“It is difficult to put into words what Connections means to me and so many of our guests. Encompassing the whole session is a love that is tangible and touches everyone who attends. God’s presence is felt in abundance.”
This is what led to the launch of The Silver Hope Trust – a charity with a mission to help more Christians and churches around the country reach older people in their communities through welcome, friendship, practical care, and the love of Jesus.
The vision is simple but urgent: that no older person would feel forgotten, and that many more would encounter and experience the love of Jesus in the later chapters of life.
Because no one should be left to disappear into the quiet. And sometimes the beginning of everything is simply this: Connections.
To find out more about Connections and The Silver Hope Trust, visit: www.thesilverhopetrust.org
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