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.
Overcoming Loneliness replaces the former Teams platform and Not Alone newsletters.
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
Uniity
Uniity is an Adelaide-based not-for-profit that aims to create sustainable caring, inclusive, and resilient communities, where people of all ages are valued and respected.
Uniity host neighbourhood events and activities for people to meet, based around cooking, art, reading, walking and coffee + chats. Their philosophy is simple, to increase happiness and to provide friendships for emotional and practical support across all life stages.
Uniity was set up in response to the separation of generations that has occurred in recent decades, due largely to people having smaller families, leading busier lives outside the home, and more moving away from their places of birth. These factors have all contributed to a decline in the type of support functional families have traditionally provided. This decline has played a significant role in increasing feelings of isolation and loneliness in our communities.
Uniity is unique in its approach to combating loneliness, with a model underpinned by volunteers. It hosts suites of neighbourhood-based activities that differ in content, delivery, and location. Each activity is designed to help people get to know each other.
Attendees:
“I often felt isolated by my condition, but Uniity has connected me with like-minded individuals of all ages and backgrounds, who accept, validate, and support my experiences”.
“It’s a great feeling to know I found friends for life, people I can get happy energy from every day”.
Facebook: #uniityfriendships
Bravery and laughter in the face of social anxiety – CCP program
Laura started the Community Connections Program (CCP) through Uniting Communities with the goal of becoming more comfortable in a group setting, to support her longer-term goal of returning to the workforce.
Laura* had a successful career as a writer, but after suffering multiple traumas she decided to take a couple of years off and work on her mental health. But this decision saw her spiral into social isolation, which made it difficult for her to maintain connection with her hobbies, community, and sense of self.
Together with case worker Olivia, Laura began to explore group activities in her local community.
“This amazing woman has shown an increasing amount of initiative in connecting with her community, with little outside influence. She’s made so much progress since our first meeting, where she was nervous to meet at a café down the road from her home. It has been truly inspiring to witness her increase in confidence and enthusiasm to find and attend community groups independently. As well as the resilience she displayed for getting back out there when things don’t go to plan,” says Olivia.
Read more
COTA Visitors program - Same program, different name
On 1 July 2023, the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) was expanded and rebranded, in line with recommendations from the Royal Commission and will now be referred to as the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS). The change in name reflects a commitment to fostering a sense of community, inclusiveness, and active participation with older people.
COTA SA will continue to offer this great program as COTA Visitors. Delivered as part of ACVVS COTA will continue to connect volunteers with older people living at home or in an aged care facility by offering companionship, social support, and opportunities for meaningful interactions.
Australia
Connecting Two Generations – LiveBetter
In an attempt to combat the loneliness epidemic that seems so prevalent in today’s society, LiveBetter has partnered with Inclusee and All Hallows’ School, Brisbane, to trial a program which brings our older and younger generations together. The program, which commenced in May, digitally connects LiveBetter Aging customers with All Hallows’ year six students. Each week, the older and younger participants shared their stories and experiences, and over time, they have begun to develop a real connection.
“I think it’s a great thing to have the younger generation realise that their life is so different to older generations. It’s good that we can talk about these differences together.”
National Health and Medical Research Council - $5.5 million in funding for research projects to address the impact of loneliness in chronic disease
Over $5.5 million in targeted funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will be shared across four research teams to investigate ways to identify and support people with chronic disease who are experiencing loneliness and social isolation.
Relationships Australia - How do relationship struggles affect loneliness?
Relationship Australia asked their website users a series of questions that, when analysed together, provide insight into whether someone is feeling lonely. They found that the people using the Relationships Australia website felt lonely at more than twice the rate of the general Australian population.
1 in 2 (56%) website users are socially lonely, while 43% are emotionally lonely. Website users were most likely to agree that they missed having people around (69%) and that they experienced a general sense of emptiness (69%). They were least likely to agree that they had many people they could count on completely (72% disagreed).
Key note speech from Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP at ‘Achieving Social Connection & Community Resilience’ conference
Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities & Treasury delivers the keynote address for the conference, Achieving Social Connection & Community Resilience: Joining the dots between policy, practice, research and community.
Ending Loneliness Together
Ending Loneliness Together has created a new loneliness awareness week for Australia 7-13 August.
This year, for Australia’s first Loneliness Awareness Week, they are shining a spotlight on the millions of Australians who are #LonelyNotAlone by sharing real stories and facts, and are encouraging everyone to take steps towards connection.
Visit their new website for all the resources and updates.
Conversations with ecipartners – Loneliness: connections matter
Martin Blake talks to Chris Corneil about how loneliness has become a prevalent and endemic issue across modern society, affecting people of all ages, backgrounds, and demographics.
International
Effective Solutions to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness through Meals on Wheels (US)
Meals on Wheels America – the national leadership organization supporting the more than 5,000 community-based programs dedicated to addressing senior hunger and isolation across the U.S. – released groundbreaking research conducted in partnership with the School of Public Health at Brown University revealing the effectiveness, scalability and sustainability of Meals on Wheels programs designed to address social isolation and loneliness.
I Know Lonely Project (US)
As part of the I Know Lonely Project, they release a monthly podcast featuring a candid conversation with each storyteller along with a bonus episode from a special guest.
The I Know Lonely Project harnesses the power of stories, cultivates empathy & understanding, inspires meaningful connections, and helps people feel less lonely. The project is a set of stories produced by Only7Seconds, each episode you'll hear from different people sharing their life experiences. They believe stories have the power to remind us that we are not as alone as we may feel.
Longevity project - Solving the Loneliness Epidemic: A Webinar (US)
On June 16th, the Longevity Project convened four world-class experts and contributors to the Surgeon General's report to discuss the state of the loneliness epidemic, the impact of the report, and promising solutions to addressing the crisis.
Panelists included Jillian Racoosin, Executive Director of the Foundation for Social Connection and the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness.
Call for Papers - Loneliness and social isolation (international)
Are you an academic committed to the issue of loneliness?
BMC Public Health has launched a collection which calls for submissions on loneliness and social isolation as a public health concern. They are after submissions on:
· Evidence-based loneliness programmes and interventions
· Protective measures against loneliness and social isolation
· Social factors contributing to loneliness and social isolation such as housing, poverty, education and inequality
Guest editors are from around the world including Michelle Lim from School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Australia.
Find out more
Friendsfest 1st August (US)
Anthym is thrilled to announce FriendFest, in support & celebration of the United Nation's International Day of Friendship. FriendFest is the first-of-its-kind event using the time-machine-like power of music & stories to create genuine connections, and hopefully, new long-term friendships!
The Annual UnLonely Film Festival videos now available (US)
The Launch Event kicked of their 7th season of 30 powerful short films focused on loneliness from a diversity of perspectives. These films are available to stream all year long.
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