East London LGBT Seniors
East London LGBT Seniors provides community building and support for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer people of more or less retirement age, and their partners, and younger volunteer supporters. They link with service providers in East London and beyond to feed back issues that LGBTQ+ face as they grow older. They are based in Stratford and serve a broad array of East Londoners and…
Idea for research
Idea for research
In a 2023 survey by our organisation, we found that the most significant issue facing older LGBT people was isolation and loneliness. However, we lack an understanding of what is driving this loneliness and what people feel isolated from. Understanding this will enable us to better address these issues.

This has led us to two questions: ‘What does loneliness mean for elder LGBTQ+ individuals and their intimate lives?

We seek to understand:
- The factors contributing to loneliness in elder LGBT populations.
- How loneliness affects the intimate connections of older LGBT individuals
- The intersectionality of age, sexual orientation, and gender identity in influencing experiences of isolation.


This research would build on existing studies concerning elder LGBT individuals, by using systematic review methodologies. However, if there is a gap in the literature in this area, primary qualitative data collection or survey data may be able to be collected.
Impact of idea
This research will provide essential insights into elderly LGBTQ+ populations’ experiences of loneliness and isolation, allowing us to provide more tailored and effective services and support. This will enable us to design programs and services to mitigate these issues in our community, enhancing social connectivity and community belonging. Further, we will share this best practice with key community organisations in the sector such as Consortium LGBT. Ultimately, this research will help us promote a more inclusive and supportive environment where elder LGBT individuals can thrive and feel connected.

If you have any existing data or information you would like included in a project, please tell us what kind of data these are

What new data or information would you like to be collected in this project?

Data generated through this idea

Application process
Application criteria
We particularly welcome applications from students who have strong active listening skills and who are comfortable interrogating their own positionality as a research. Further we would love to see applications who have a strong sense of empathy and openness. Finally it will be essential for students to be able to critically appraise the literature and put evidence in context.
Is this project fully accessible to students with the disabilities?
Yes
Disabilities information
Can be fully accessible

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