Activities

Tackling loneliness

Feeling lonely can have a negative impact on your mental health. If you are feeling lonely, you may want to get more involved in your community or volunteer to help others. There are many activities that you can get actively involved with in Central Bedfordshire.

The Council supports the voluntary and community sector in our area, funding lots of different schemes. Residents interested in volunteering can enquire and sign up through CVS Bedfordshire or Beds RCC – Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity 

Things you can do in Central Bedfordshire

Libraries

Leisure centres

Find your local leisure centre.

Other Activities

  • 'Just Ask' - Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire visits areas across Central Bedfordshire to provide information, advice and guidance about local social care, health, housing and additional services. We will be joined by our partner organisations and local voluntary groups.
  • Come along and join Time 2 Connect at Houghton Hall Park where members enjoy the weekly Café Connect social group, which is held at our venue at Houghton Hall Park.  The Tuesday afternoon sessions are facilitated by staff who capture and explore popular topics of conversation, the online day activities team at Central Bedfordshire frequently attend to deliver their sessions during our drop-in.
  • Village and Community Agents can help you access the services and support you need. They provide practical support and help to support isolated and vulnerable residents either directly or by signposting them to support agencies. Visit The Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity website to find a community agent near you.
  • Leighton-Linslade Town Council fund a Community Agent to provide free support for residents of Leighton Buzzard.
  • The Leighton Linslade Town Council also provide a handy online local directory featuring groups and activities taking place around Leighton-Linslade.
  • Carers in Beds offer opportunities to meet others in a similar situation and host groups and workshops for carers and former carers.  They also host lots of events, activities, and talks for information, support, and leisure opportunities. You can find details of events listed on their What’s On Calendar.
  • Stroke Association run groups and provides 121 support for stroke survivors, and can signpost to some long-running self-sustaining groups of former stroke survivors.
  • BLMK MIND provides a range of support including community-based peer support groups, mentoring, our Mind Matters groups and a selection of activities that aim to support positive mental health and wellbeing.
  • Every year Health Watch Central Bedfordshire hold a Festival for Older People where people can come along to find out about health and social care support in their local community as well as activities, refreshments and entertainment.
  • Community Wellbeing Champions can support you to connect with community groups and provide personalised support to help you make positive changes to take control of your health and well-being.
  • Visit one of two warm spaces in Bedfordshire for people to come to for a warm space to enjoy a hot drink, some company, and support if they need it. These spaces are FREE, and anyone is welcome to come along.
  • Sight Concern provides a range of social activities including telephone befriending, social clubs, IT training and support and access to talking newspapers and newsletters.
  • Timebanking helps to make happier, healthier communications and is for anyone who would like to share or exchange their time and skills with others and receive help in return, Timebanking can be a great way to get involved in your community or to help others.

Greensand Country Community Transport

Disabled access buses offer a door-to-door service to help you access everyday activities, check out the link to see if we operate in your area

Support

Lots of people need help, perhaps because they are older, disabled or have a long-term health condition. You might be looking for help to get out and about, get washed or dressed, manage your garden, meet friends, and pursue hobbies or work. We have commissioned Community Catalyst to help us link people who need care or support with small businesses and local people who might help to offer care and help at home to older and disabled people. They manage and produce a handy online directory called Small Good Stuff where you can find a whole variety of tailored support that all comes down to local people helping other local people.

Getting out and meeting others can be difficult for some and there are some useful helplines, such as Samaritans and MIND.  

You can contact Silver Line on 0800 4 70 80 90 (24-hour helpline) if you need to talk to someone and get some help. This is helpful if you are not able to get active to socialise. You can call them any time for a friendly chat or for advice and information.

Marmalade Trust is the UK’s leading loneliness charity for all ages and offers a number of resources to help you understand loneliness and gives advice as to what you can do to change the situation.

Independent Age offers a number of guides that may help you if you are feeling lonely, or you know a friend or relative who might be. It also offers you the opportunity to volunteer and help others who may also feel isolated. You can download the booklet, If you’re feeling lonely, from Independent Age's website

Age UK has a telephone befriending service aimed to help older people aged 50 or over, living in Bedfordshire providing a friendly ear to talk through any worries or concerns.

The NHS website also has lots of useful advice.