RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 70 Pen-to-paper: a pen-pal scheme between cambridge medical students and elderly residents JF BMJ Leader JO BMJ Leader FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP A27 OP A28 DO 10.1136/leader-2019-FMLM.70 VO 3 IS Suppl 1 A1 Bharmal, Aamena A1 Rogers, Alice YR 2019 UL http://bmjleader.bmj.com/content/3/Suppl_1/A27.3.abstract AB 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:Tackled loneliness in students and elderly residents in Cambridge.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 improvementImpact will be measured following a year of letter-writing to assess:A change in score of feeling of loneliness.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.