AI to help tackle loneliness among older people in Bolton

Age UK Bolton and technology company Thriving AI have launched a 12-month pilot, Thriving in Bolton, which will use digital tool to link older residents with family, carers and local support networks.

The initiative will support 60 people aged 65 and over, particularly those living alone or at risk of social isolation, through personalised ‘circles of care’, bringing together family members, friends, carers and healthcare professionals in one coordinated network.

The AI platform combines communication tools, mood tracking and health monitoring to improve wellbeing, flag potential concerns earlier and help people live independently for longer.

The rollout is backed by £20,000 in National Lottery funding through Awards for All England programme.

The pilot is set to help family, friends and carers communicate with residents at risk of isolation (Image: Age UK)

Lauren McKechnie, CEO of Age UK Bolton, expressed her enthusiasm for what the funding will mean for local residents: “This funding is an incredible opportunity for Bolton’s older residents.

“Too many people in our borough are living with the devastating effects of loneliness and isolation, and this pilot will explore how new technology, alongside the deep community trust can be part of the solution.

“By combining our local knowledge and relationships with Thriving AI’s innovative platform, we can better reach the people who need us most and genuinely change how we age in Bolton”.

Shain Khoja, Founder & CEO of Thriving AI, said: “Thriving in Bolton is exactly the kind of project we set out to make possible when we founded Thriving AI.

“Older people deserve to live with connection, dignity, and independence – and we know from our previous work that even people in their nineties who have never used technology before can embrace our platform and thrive on it.

“Working alongside Age UK Bolton, a charity with such deep roots in Bolton’s communities, gives us the perfect foundation to show what is possible when technology and human care come together.

“We have built our platform closely with input from older people themselves, and we look forward to continuing to learn from Age UK Bolton and its members, integrating their feedback as we develop and grow the project together.”

As part of the project, participants will receive free tablet devices where needed, alongside one-to-one digital skills training.

The rollout is being backed by National Lottery funding (Image: Age UK)

They will also be supported to access local activities, social groups and Age UK Bolton’s existing Ageing Well programme.

Community engagement specialists Social Sense will support outreach and evaluation, ensuring feedback from participants helps shape the platform as the pilot progresses.

Impact will be measured using recognised tools, including the UCLA Loneliness Scale and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale.

The project aligns with Bolton’s Age-Friendly Strategy 2025–2028 and forms part of the wider Bolton Age Well Partnership.