Loneliness in a Social World
How loneliness can be as harmful as 15 cigarettes a day
Timebuilders - Lunches for the Lonely
In Gleadless Valley Methodist Church, the tables are laid out and the cooks are busy at work. Bowls of soup are carefully being placed out for each person. People are slowly filtering through the doors and taking their seats. Nervous at first, they begin chatting about the weather before moving onto their hobbies and eventually current affairs.
This is no ordinary lunch club. Timebuilders Loneliness Action Group aims to tackle social isolation in Sheffield. Founded four years ago in St Mary’s, the group aspires to begin a conversation on loneliness amongst members.
Rachel Hilton was attending the club for the first time. She decided to take part after running into financial difficulties and finding herself socially isolated.
Rachel says: “I don’t have the money to socialise with my friends and family which makes things incredibly difficult for me.
"My life has turned upside-down. I once had everything and now I’ve lost it all.
“This group is great for me. The importance of eating a meal together is forgotten about these days" she says.
The course consists of four sessions, allowing people to learn from each other.
James Starky, Timebuilders leader, says: “Together we try to define what loneliness is and how we get to the opposite of that. It’s more of a group discussion than a therapy session.”
Sporting Memories - Remembering Sport of the Past
Meanwhile, over in Woodhouse, a group of Sheffield residents are reminiscing over their memories of Sheffield Wednesday in the 1980s. Laughing and joking, they begin a quiz leading to much competitive debate.
The Sporting Memories Foundation aims to get men over 50 to discuss their sporting recollections to combat loneliness.
Members Richard Heeley and Mike Eaton strongly believe in the group's importance.
Richard, 65, says: “Getting older men to join is extremely difficult, as they tend to isolate themselves. I’m glad I joined.”
"Sometimes this group is all people have. It’s easy to forget how lonely people are.
Sporting Memories also has groups in Waterthorpe and Ecclesall.
Mike says: "Along with socialising, it helps keep the mind active – which is important as you get older.”
Goodgym - Combating Loneliness with Exercise
Elsewhere in Sheffield, on a cold Monday night, over a dozen runners are heading to Heeley People’s Park. Their mission, to mulch as much as possible.
Clearing pathways for drainage is a tiring task, but Goodgym aims to use exercise to help the community.
I'm nearly at 50 visits to my @goodgym coach/ surrogate Grandma. That's a lot of cuppas, not to mention life lessons & #Sheffield dialect coaching. I've seen more of her in the past 16 months than I ever saw of my grandparents. #gg100k. #volunteer
— Sam Needham (@SamNeedham) 2 August 2018
Their Coach Runs partners members with a lonely person for them to run to, allowing them to socialise.
Margery's Story
Down in Woodseats, Margery Sissions, 90, is a member of SCCCC's Good Neighbour Scheme. For three years, Ann Cooper has visited Margery to socialise with her.
SCCCC launched the scheme in 1967 and relies on volunteers to visit their clients, who may not have the mobility to visit lunch clubs.
The Bigger Picture
Half a million older people go at least five days a week without social interaction. A study suggests that loneliness may be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
ONS research found that 1 in 20 adults felt lonely “often/always” and those aged 75+ are least likely to feel lonely.
The Jo Cox Commission report, released at the end of 2017, was the first step to tackle loneliness nationally.
After appointing Tracey Crouch as the Minister for Loneliness earlier this year, Theresa May has outlined an extra £1.8m in funding for loneliness projects by 2023. GP's will be encouraged to refer patients to these groups to ease NHS strain.
Loneliness Minister Tracey Crouch announcing the policy
Known as 'social prescribing', GPs in England will be able to prescribe treatment for loneliness by referring people to social activities like cooking classes or walking clubs.
The new funding will add to the £20m announced in June, helping community groups and charities expand their existing schemes.
Loneliness is a hidden epidemic, but one that Jo Cox was very much conscious of. In her memory, the government is helping to make £20 million available to charities and community groups working to tackle loneliness. pic.twitter.com/qlGnZ8x6bn
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) 19 June 2018
In Sheffield, council bosses are to fund 51 lunch clubs until 2022 to reduce loneliness. This yearly budget of £189,000 for the next three financial years will be split between lunch clubs and services to develop them.
Edyta Bancer, Service Manager of Counselling and Therapy Services at Sheffield Mind says: “There has been an increase in loneliness in my experience. Sometimes a person’s GP is the only social contact they have during the week.
“We want people to see beyond the darkness in their lives. Policies like the prime minister has announced should improve mental wellbeing.
The actions of these groups may go unnoticed, but to those they help, it can have a life-changing impact.
