Help tackle loneliness during Loneliness Awareness Week
Monday, 12 June 2023
Loneliness Awareness Week (12 to 18 June 2023) is a week dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness.
It’s all about creating supportive communities by having conversations with family, friends or colleagues about loneliness. Loneliness is a natural human emotion - we are hardwired to need social connections. By talking about it, we can support ourselves and others.
Loneliness Awareness Week is a national campaign is run by Marmalade Trust the UK’s leading loneliness charity offering support for all ages and is the only charity in the world specifically dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness.
Connecting with others is important for our mental health and in recognition of this the theme of this year’s campaign is “Connection Matters”. It highlights that we're more than just colleagues or individuals highlights that it’s the little everyday moments that can make a big difference.
We are supporting the campaign by highlighting all the different ways residents can make new connections.
There are many ways residents can meet new people with similar interests. It could be through joining a social club or an activity at a library, attending a fitness class or a health walk, or volunteering. Find out about opportunities, and other local befriending services.
Volunteering is an incredible way to become active in your community and make connections. Last week, at the Cheering Volunteering event, a local volunteer said:
Volunteering isn’t just about the work. It’s about the socialising and the impact we have. It lifts the spirit.
We support 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.
Getting out and meeting others can be difficult for some and there are some useful helplines, such as Samaritans, Age UK and MIND. The NHS website also has useful advice.
Executive Member for Health and Community Liaison, Councillor Rebecca Hares, said:
Loneliness is a growing issue that affects a lot of us at different points in our lives. Isolation takes a toll on our mental health and having strong connections to others and our community is vital for maintaining our wellbeing; and there are plenty of ways to get involved in creating new bonds within Central Bedfordshire.
Let’s start the conversations and open up about our struggles with connecting and loneliness. Together, we can combat this issue and create happier, more connected communities.