Concern over the number of people in North Yorkshire who feel lonely
It's a new study suggests 1 in 5 feel held back by social anxiety
We're hearing how social media and working from home is driving up the numbers of people feeling lonely in North Yorkshire.
Data suggest around one in five feel held back by social anxiety when talking to new people and 20% struggle with small talk.
Joanne Burton helped set up the Girls Club - York, they organise activities so people can make new friends: "I think there is quite a lot of stigma. People don't like to say 'ohh I feel lonely. I'm struggling to make friends'. But I think when you when you're open about it, you realise just how many people are in the same boat."
"There's a lot of women who are rebuilding friendship groups after ending a relationship, and then they get to come to these events and network and mingle and quite often leave with someone else's number plans to meet up again."
Emma Hicking also helped set up the group: "No one's alone in that feeling of feeling alone, and it can be the most isolating, horrible feeling, feeling like you haven't got anybody but so many people are feeling like that."
You can find out more about the Girls Club York here