Loneliness and social isolation is a serious problem…. It can lead to people dying earlier because of smoking and alcohol consumption for example or/and increasing anxiety levels and poor mental health resulting in self-harm. We need to do something to reduce the number and intensity of people who are feeling lonely or isolated.
A local cross-sector partnership leading the Connecting Health Communities programme in St Helens is bringing together people of all ages with different perspectives to explore and understand the possible causes of social isolation and loneliness for local residents, what needs to change and what the solutions for people in the borough, initially focusing in two areas: Town centre and Fouracre.
- Date: 18th October
- Time: 1pm to 3.30pm (with a networking lunch 12.30pm onwards)
- Venue: Room 10, Town Hall, St Helens
Colleagues on the steering group have nominated you/your organisation to attend as you have an important role in supporting people in communities through the different services you provide. It would be great if you can join us and share your own learning and perspectives. We are inviting NHS colleagues in the area including the members of the local Primary Care Networks to join the workshop along with voluntary, community and social enterprises; community organisations and groups, befriending service providers, carer organisations etc., to come together to explore how to reduce social isolation and loneliness for communities in St Helens.
It is national work – what we learn and do here will be shared with our England colleagues – both in the public and voluntary community sector. This is not a new or single piece of work it will draw on what has already been learnt and what else is happening around this important focus – and seeks to ‘get underneath the data’ around higher rates of depression and anxiety for example – to really understand the barriers that exist for communities in St Helens.
This will be a participatory workshop, focusing on:
- Why the focus on social isolation and loneliness in St Helens and its links with health inequalities?
- What challenges do people in communities face in relation to social isolation and loneliness?
- Are there other things happening in the communities that we need to be aware of?
- Art of the possible: Potential of Connecting Health Communities in St Helens i.e. the vision and your role in making this happen?
The steering group for this work is a group of cross-sector leaders from St Helens Borough Council, Torus Foundation, YMCA St Helens, St Helens & Knowsley Hospital Trust, Halton & St Helens Voluntary and Community Action, St Helens Wellbeing Service, City Healthcare Partnership CIC and Healthwatch St Helens.
To book your place, please see the link below:
We look forward to seeing you!