News / Loneliness
New £1.1m creative programme to address loneliness
Arts and culture are at the heart of a major new programme to reduce loneliness – with an ambition to help more than 4,000 people to feel less isolated over the next two and a half years.
All Together Now is a new initiative bringing arts, culture and creativity to ‘forgotten postcodes’ and communities across Bristol and the West of England.
The new programme is being led by the St Monica Trust and delivered by a consortium of partners led by Bristol Beacon.
The first-of-its-kind programme will run until July 2028 in six communities identified as having a higher risk of loneliness including Stockwood in south-east Bristol as well as older people from Global Majority backgrounds and disabled young people.
Creative activities from storytelling to photography will take place in a variety of locations with the programme providing employment to local artists, musicians and creatives.
All Together Now is the flagship programme of the West of England Impact Alliance, a collaboration of more than 50 organisations including health, culture, councils, universities, funders and community groups, working together to address loneliness with long-term regional impact.
The £1.1m in funding comes from St Monica Trust, Arts Council England, the West of England Combined Authority, Bristol Beacon, the Grateful Society and Sirona Care & Health.
St Monica Trust chief executive, David Williams, said: “The challenge of making meaningful change within our communities is highly complex and cannot be achieved by a single funder, organisation or sector.
“Through the St Monica Trust’s partnership with local communities, charities and other organisations, initiatives like All Together Now can address the causes of loneliness and maximise our impact, rather than individual grants acting as a sticking plaster for societal issues.”
Bristol Beacon chief executive, Simon Wales, added: “Arts and culture have a powerful role to play in bringing people together.
“Recognising the creativity and talent we have in our region, this programme will support communities, artists and practitioners to build new connections through music, art and shared experiences, and participate in cultural activities that they have helped to shape so they reflect their own identities and interests.”
Main photo: Jessie Myers
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