Out of isolation: UK charities reconnect older LGBTQ+ people

Pat (right) with Jo, who is a volunteer from Opening Doors. ‘Now I’ve got to know Jo, she’s a good friend for ever,’ says Pat. Photograph: Suki Dhanda/The Observer

Jo was first paired up with Pat four years ago, but her relationship with the 69-year-old has deepened such that she sometimes forgets they were introduced by a befriending scheme for LGBTQ+ over-50s.

“If I’ve had a crappy day, seeing Pat lifts my mood because she’s so upbeat and resilient,” the 33-year-old says. “If I’m struggling with a situation, I think ‘what would Pat say?’”