Welcome to the Uniting Communities Overcoming Loneliness monthly e-news. We’ll keep you up to date with the latest news about loneliness initiatives, research, innovative case studies and data.
If you have a story to share about how your work or organisation is overcoming loneliness, please contact us at advocacy@unitingcommunities.org
South Australia
Combatting loneliness in the Adelaide Hills
A community initiative by the Hut Community Centre and the University of South Australia is helping lonely people find new connections by focusing on preventing loneliness and there is hope the blueprint can be expanded.
The project involved women in the community working with the centre and a team at the University of South Australia to brainstorm and co-design programs to connect people.
The participants reflected on their own experiences of loneliness and how they could help others in similar situations.
Speed friending in Adelaide
Motivated by a lack of friendships since moving to Adelaide Jess (26) an ambulance officer created a brand new Facebook page – Find a Friend – in a bid to make new connections with other women.
Within a few weeks, the site had 1000 members and that September, it hosted its first get-together at a Mexican restaurant.
Jess says, “The group took off a lot better than I thought it would. It just kept growing and we kept doing events where people could make new friends.”
Today, Find a Friend has over 7000 members, with more than 40 per cent in the 25 to 34 year old age bracket. And the group still holds regular events – dinners, special guest speakers, wine tours and “women’s circles” led by holistic health provider Amelia Finn.
Find out more (please note article is behind a paywall)
1.5 million funding boosts for SA Community Centres
The State Government is boosting support for South Australia’s community centres, with the opening of a $1.5 million grants round designed to increase community participation and combat social isolation.
These grants will support activities which could include new programs to meet a specific local need; programs to increase community participation and combat social isolation; support for the recruitment and retention of volunteers; and training for staff and volunteers.
Australia
Why we feel lonely report
One in four Australians report feeling lonely, according to Ending Loneliness Together’s new report released during Loneliness Awareness Week.
· 41.1% of people aged 18-24 were persistently lonely.
· 31.6% of people aged 45-54 year olds were persistently lonely
· It also found that people who have a disability, developmental or health condition are more at risk of experiencing persistent loneliness.
New inquiry into loneliness
A NSW parliamentary committee will inquire into and report on the prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in NSW.
The term of reference includes:
- steps the State Government can take to reduce the prevalence and impacts of loneliness in the community
- steps that community, technology/social media companies, organisations, and individuals can take to reduce the impact of loneliness on individuals and the community
The committee is now accepting submissions.
International
New US legislation
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee has passed the Older Americans Reauthorization Act.
Within this Act is the inclusion of “strategies to address social isolation” within the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Healthy Aging and Age Friendly Communities’ activities.
Parent Mental Health & Wellbeing (US)
The U.S. Surgeon General has issued a new advisory on the need to support parent mental health and wellbeing.
The Surgeon General recommends creating a culture for parents and caregivers to thrive which includes investing in local social infrastructure to foster social connection among parents and caregivers.
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