News / KNowle West
Tackling loneliness one meal at a time
Community meals are a regular fixture at Redcatch Community Garden, but recently the gathering had a special purpose.
The Knowle West venue hosted the free lunch as part of Loneliness Awareness Week, a national organised by the Marmalade Trust.
Their recent survey survey of 2,000 UK adults aged 18 to 29 found that while 45 per cent said they felt anxious, only 26 per cent admitted to feeling lonely.
Separate research conducted last year found that 61 per cent of UK adults who had experienced loneliness had never told anyone how they felt.
Amy Perrin, founder and chief executive of the trust, said these findings highlight the importance of the campaign.
“We want this anniversary year to help raise awareness of loneliness as a natural human experience, reduce stigma and encourage people to speak more openly and support each other.”
Loneliness Awareness Week is a campaign dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness
This year’s theme, Giving Loneliness a Voice, marks a milestone for the campaign, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary.
Campaign manager Hannah Beatrice said the theme reflects the charity’s long-term mission.
“The first theme was ‘Let’s Talk Loneliness’,” she said.
“That’s what the campaign has been doing for the last ten years is giving loneliness a voice. It’s come full circle that that will be our theme this year.”
Beatrice explained that the charity uses a “theory of change” model to address loneliness.
She said: “Loneliness is a big issue and there is more than one aspect that needs looking at.”
At Redcatch Community Garden, a free two course meal was served as well as discussions about how to tackle loneliness.
One participant said: “I think it’s excellent.
“Loneliness can hit you at any time and that can be really really lowering to yourself but this is a great place to come and join in and make friends, have a wonderful lunch and just to be happy.”
View this post on Instagram
The Marmalade Trust tackles loneliness through three main strands of work: training and support programmes, awareness campaigns such as Loneliness Awareness Week, and connection projects that bring people together in their local communities.
To encourage participation, the charity provides resources for organisations and individuals looking to host their own connection events, including conversation starters, table signs, compliment jars and fundraising materials.
“We find that a lot of activities start for the first time and then people realise there are other people who want to do those activities and they continue beyond the week,” said Hannah.
Loneliness Awareness Week continues until Sunday. For more information, visit www.marmaladetrust.org/law
All photos: Luke Buckland
Read more:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
