Background Loneliness and social isolation are health risk factors that are comparable to obesity and cigarette smoking, with those experiencing it having a 26% greater likelihood of mortality. There are two at risk population groups: young adults (18–25 years) and oldest old (70 years).

Through a combination of questionnaires, user-stories and discussions with experts, we learnt that this research applied to Cambridge:

• Cambridge medical students expressed feelings of loneliness and isolation during medical student placements, where they could be allocated in small groups (often 2 or 3 individuals) to remote areas of Cambridgeshire.

• Care homes residents reported a feeling of lack of social integration with those outside of their care homes.

Aims Our aim was to create an intervention that:

1. Tackled loneliness in students and elderly residents in Cambridge.

2. Established social integration across different generations.

Intervention Following a stakeholder engagement and workshop with: medical student representatives, Cambridge university executive board and Cambridge local council care home lead; a pilot pen-pal scheme was launched between care home residents and Cambridge medical students.

Measurement of impact and improvement

Impact will be measured following a year of letter-writing to assess:

1. A change in score of feeling of loneliness.

2. Understanding another generation.

Provisional feedback has been positive, with all 10 pairs in the pilot recommending the scheme to a friend or family, and reporting that they have had ‘interesting and enjoyable conversations’.

Conclusion Pen-to-paper is a unique and engaging way to tackle the complex problem of social isolation and loneliness in two at high-risk groups. The intervention has been well received by both groups and we are extending the intervention to residents in warden controlled/sheltered accommodation.