Latest news with #socialisolation
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Kent charity's ‘green therapy' wins the day
Tucked away in a rural village setting in Kent is a space which may reshape the way Britain deals with everything from social isolation to bereavement. East Malling charity Communigrow is the winner of the Community category in the Adobe Express Your Innovation competition, in partnership with Telegraph Media Group, judged by award-winning social entrepreneur and broadcaster Natalie Campbell MBE. The competition offers mentoring and investment to three of Britain's most creative businesses in three categories: Community Project, Small Business and Rising Star. Communigrow grows food in an eco-friendly way. Entirely powered by solar panels, the lush 2.4-acre green space has no electricity bills and produces food for the local community and food banks, but also offers hundreds of local people 'green therapy' to help improve their mental and physical health. The business was a clear standout in its category, Campbell says, and a deserving winner of the competition sponsored by Adobe Express, the free create-anything app. The app enables entrepreneurs to create eye-catching promotional videos, flyers and social media campaigns in seconds. The most important impact of Communigrow is not the food it grows, but the way in which it helps local people boost their mental and physical health by getting in touch with nature, says Tamsin Gillard-Moss, community engagement manager for Communigrow. Gillard-Moss says that the workers and volunteers at Communigrow, which was founded 14 years ago, did not expect the site to grow the way it has, having started as wasteland, with Gillard-Moss joining three years ago as it boomed in popularity. She says she has realised its main benefit is the boost it gives to the mental and physical wellbeing of Communigrow's beneficiaries. 'I was speaking to one of the people in a group for over-50s who has long-term health conditions,' explains Gillard-Moss. 'He said that prior to coming he had been living 'like a hermit'. He didn't go out, he didn't see anyone. It was really sad. It really struck home.' The man has since come every Wednesday all through the winter, and Gillard-Moss says both his physical and mental health are clearly improving. As well as working with local Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) school Five Acre Wood Sixth Form, the charity also offers free therapeutic gardening sessions for groups such as isolated older people and bereaved adults, and there are new groups for army veterans and emergency services workers. In 2024, the site ran 45 wellbeing sessions for older people, worked with 10 local schools, ran 116 sessions for children and young people with SEND and ran 30 family workshops. 'What we see is being outside, being active and taking part in community activities, and intergenerational working – we have everyone from tiny tots to over-80s here – means there's a real change in people's mental and physical health. That's what we do,' says Gillard-Moss. Just 17 per cent of British adults engage with people from different generations in community spaces, according to YouGov research, with only 14 per cent of over-55s doing so, making this a valuable service. According to Gillard-Moss, Communigrow applied to the competition thinking that they 'didn't have a hope' as a relatively small charity. East Malling is among the top 20 per cent most income-deprived areas in England, and the site has helped more than 1,000 adults and young people over the past year, with numbers having doubled since 2021. Gillard-Moss says that Communigrow hopes to use its mentorship from the Adobe Express Your Innovation competition to boost awareness locally. 'The big barrier for us is that we are on a gated site,' she says. 'Unless you're coming to visit us, we don't get people seeing what we do.' The Community category judge, Natalie Campbell MBE, says she believes the charity's approach could be used in other communities across Britain. 'I picked Communigrow to win because they demonstrated the real sense of being rooted in the East Malling community, and what they're doing can be replicated across the UK,' she says. Campbell looks around the sun-splashed site where volunteers are working with students from Five Acre Wood Sixth Form. 'There is so much about this space that fills my heart with joy,' says Campbell who believes that her expertise in brand communications, gained as co-chief executive of social enterprise Belu since 2020, and co-founder of social innovation agency A Very Good Company, will enable her to offer advice on how to spread the word about Communigrow. 'This is a beautiful space, and when I look at the organisation's various social channels, that is not coming through,' says Campbell. 'With the Adobe package, you've got tools to communicate, so if you figure out the right story, then you'll start to see more people coming down to the space.' Adobe Express makes it easy to produce eye-catching social media posts, videos and flyers that can help gain much-needed exposure for businesses, and Campbell says that she will mentor Communigrow towards 'quick brand and marketing wins', and believes that Communigrow's approach could be commercialised with corporates for team-building days, raising more money for the charity. She hopes to use her own contacts to connect Communigrow to other funders. 'It aligns to the things that I think are important,' says Campbell. It's about togetherness and making people healthier in a post-pandemic world where people spend so much time alone. Being here immediately changes your mood. If I was running the government, this would be socially prescribed to operate all across the UK.'
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Combating Isolation For Adults With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities
Social isolation and loneliness have been pervasive public health concerns in America, especially impacting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Both mental and physical health are impacted by isolation and loneliness with research indicating that it can be more harmful than smoking, increasing the risk of depression, heart disease, and premature death. While the emotional toll of isolation has been acknowledged in the broader population, adults with IDD often experience an even deeper, more persistent sense of isolation—stemming from systemic exclusion, lack of accessible opportunities, and insufficient support networks. People with IDD often experience higher rates of loneliness due to environments that lack adequate inclusion. People in the general population often find connection through clubs, community centers, faith communities, and other local activities. These spaces offer natural opportunities for social engagement and a sense of belonging. However, for adults with IDD, these same settings are not always accessible to people with IDD, especially without adequate support. As a result, many individuals with IDD are left with limited opportunities to participate meaningfully in community life, leading to greater isolation and fewer chances to build lasting social connections. Research indicates that social isolation in individuals with IDD is associated with increased mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression. A lack of everyday interaction, meaningful engagement, and community inclusion results in a pattern of inactivity and dependence. This impacts an individual's overall health, well-being and growth. This invisible crisis is an area where more focus should be directed to shed light on ways to address this issue and mitigate loneliness. A feature issue on loneliness and people with intellectual disabilities shares personal stories, research, and more on this topic. Structured social programs tailored for adults with IDD play a critical role in alleviating loneliness. For example, community day programs provide safe, supportive environments where individuals can build friendships, gain self-confidence, and participate in engaging activities. Social programs are more than an antidote for loneliness—they provide a pathway for people with IDD to develop meaningful lives. Our Place of New Trier Township is a social support program that provides innovative programs for over 120 individuals with IDD. These group activities help participants develop essential life and job skills, supporting them in building greater autonomy and a strong sense of contribution. Activities include going to local restaurants for community lunch, creative art projects, volunteer opportunities, and structured recreational programs that foster emotional intelligence, communication skills, and self-determination. When people with IDD have the support they need, they're more likely to engage in their communities—supporting neighborhood businesses and giving back through volunteer work. Studies support this holistic benefit. A 2021 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that adults with IDD who participated in community-based social and recreational programs reported greater life satisfaction and lower rates of loneliness. Importantly, these programs also contribute to a greater sense of inclusion and belonging—two factors strongly linked to long-term health and quality of life. Enacting community engagement and inclusion is a practice. Investing in social programs for people with IDD is strategic. Communities thrive when all members are empowered to contribute. Inclusive programs reduce long-term care costs, increase employment, and strengthen civic bonds. Nonprofit organizations like Our Place have been at the forefront of cultivating social opportunities. This work requires support from public and private sectors, including businesses, local governments, and philanthropists who recognize the long-term value of inclusion. Working together, we can prevent the loneliness crisis among adults with IDD. By intentionally investing in social programs, we can reduce isolation and increase inclusion. We can create spaces where adults with IDD form true friendships, learn critical skills, and live self-directed, fulfilling lives. Everyone deserves connection, purpose, and a place to belong.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- General
- South China Morning Post
As loneliness epidemic spreads through South Korea, Seoul is spending millions to fight it
A growing epidemic of social isolation in South Korea has prompted its capital city to invest more than 450 billion won (US$330 million) in a sweeping five-year initiative aimed at reducing loneliness in the city. Advertisement The Seoul Metropolitan Government's efforts include the launch of a convenience store where locals can enjoy free instant noodles while talking about their feelings, as well as a 24-hour counselling hotline. Seoul is at the epicentre of the nation's social isolation epidemic, with people living alone now making up more than 35 per cent of all households in the capital, according to The Korea Herald. A recent Seoul Institute survey revealed that 62 per cent of single-person households reported experiencing loneliness, while 13.6 per cent were socially isolated. A separate 2023 study by the city estimated that about 130,000 people aged between 19 and 39 were living in near-total social withdrawal. According to a recent Seoul Institute survey, 62 per cent of single-person households have reported experiencing loneliness. Photo: Shutterstock Lonely deaths in South Korea – where someone dies by suicide or illness after living in social isolation – increased from 3,378 in 2021 to 3,661 in 2023, according to the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.
CTV News
29-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
The effects of loneliness on our well-being as we age
Winnipeg Watch Maralee talks with Cara Brown about a new study that highlights the effects of social isolation and loneliness on our well-being as we age.
Telegraph
27-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
After 40 years as a cat person, I've abandoned them for dogs
When we got our first dog in 2015, there was much talk within the media about the scourge of loneliness and social isolation. The more time we spent on our phones in this modern world, the less we knew how to interact in real life. And we were suffering accordingly. But thanks to Missy, a border terrier I sourced, as it happened, on my phone, I found that people are still only too eager to talk to strangers; they just need an excuse to do so. And nothing quite facilitates easy conversation better than walking your dog in a park. I was in my mid-40s when we got her, and she was, at least initially, an unknowable thing to me: over-friendly, over-eager, tauntingly tireless. I'd previously been a cat person, drawn to their aloof independence, and the fact that they could treat you the way Zsa Zsa Gabor occasionally did her husbands. I liked that, for some reason. The dog, in comparison, was a love bomb, always exploding in your face. She arrived at a stage in my life – specifically, midlife – when I was beginning, with palpable relief, to extricate myself from certain friendships, while lamenting those that just seemed to unravel of their own accord. But the dog then led me, without fanfare, into an entirely new social circle, comprised of people I'd never have encountered, much less befriended, without her. Over the next 10 years, she would open up the world in all sorts of ways, a beguiling companion at home, and a perpetual liability outdoors. She'd require me first to interact with strangers, then apologise to them as and when needed, which was often. Like the time she knocked a little girl flying while in pursuit of a pigeon, her mother distinctly unimpressed, or the homeless man whose Greggs' sausage roll she daringly swiped. I'd routinely watch her waltz off with total strangers simply because they had better treats than me, and occasionally stood helpless as she darted out into oncoming traffic because it seemed a good idea at the time. Life with her has been complicated, certainly, but rarely dull. Find your tribe In the small neighbourhood park I'd previously blithely ignored, I found endless drama and incident, and fell in with people who were young and old, and from every conceivable background, each eager to connect. It was here where a graffiti artist, with a limping pug, offered me an unsolicited TED talk on the benefits of investing in bitcoin one morning, while on another I walked with a stoned martial arts enthusiast – barefoot alongside his majestic Akita – to help him look for his shoes, 'which I seem to have misplaced'. I watched arguments erupt and quickly settle, new love blossom, and offered solace to those for whom it had ended. People with dogs seem to talk more openly than those without. While our pets mooched about us, they shared their anxieties, the trials of menopause, their myriad gripes and grouches. It felt lovely to be taken into quite so many confidences, and we became a community. True, I don't think any of us ever met outside the park, and we didn't always learn each other's name quite as quickly as we did the dogs', but within here we had each other's backs. When, for example, the man with Alzheimer's continued to turn up long after his own border terrier had died, and advancements in his condition became increasingly evident, one of us always silently volunteered to walk him home again afterwards. And when we encountered an emotional woman crying into her poodle's fur, the group offered her refuge from her abusive relationship, then helped her to break free from it completely. If ever I lost faith in humanity, I need only come back here to see it restored. Train your dog to obey I would come quickly to learn that getting a dog is much like having a baby. Everyone has an opinion on how you are raising it, and are quick to tell you where you're going wrong. 'Get a firmer grip,' they said. 'Teach her to obey you.' 'Ha,' I replied. 'Good one.' One July, we went to the river to cool off, only to watch – horrified – as Missy was swept away in the water's current in pursuit of a tennis ball that hadn't been thrown for her. The further she drifted, the louder we cried. A crowd gathered. 'You want to control her,' someone chided. 'That's my dog's ball,' said another. We called out to her, but she suffers from selective hearing. Her focus was entirely on the ball. The more she tried to bite it, the further away it bobbed. You'd think she'd give up, but no. Terriers. A large cruise boat loomed into view. This was getting serious. My wife spotted a kayaker, and pleaded for his help. Cheers rose from the crowd. We'd become the afternoon's entertainment, folk abandoning their barbecues to watch. The kayaker paddled fast, grabbed her, then clamped her tight between his thighs. In this way, a life was saved. The reunion was tearful, the kayaker awkward amid the gratitude. And then the cheers turned to jeers. Missy had waded back into the water. The tennis ball was still out there, unclaimed. 'That's my ball,' the lady next to me said again. Be in the moment It's an unavoidably sad fact that our animals age much faster than we do. When Missy was a puppy, I was still clinging hard to youthful energy levels, but both of us have been through much in the intervening years – existential crises (me), clogged anal glands (her) – and it shows on both of us. We've each got grey in our muzzles, both increasingly set in our ways. And our daily walks have become a battle of wills. We don't meet with the same crew any more – some have moved on, a few have died – and Missy doesn't like the newer arrivals. There've been incidents, fights. And so now we head elsewhere. But while I turn right, she veers left. Often, in the middle of the road, she will simply stop, impervious both to the encroaching traffic and to my pulling on the lead, happy to allow her neck to extend like a giraffe's in order to exert her will. I try to stare her out, but she doesn't blink. She leads me instead to a nearby cemetery, where it's quieter. Here amongst the gravestones, I contemplate my mortality while she sniffs every blade of grass at least twice, then lies down. Time slows. At first, this tested my patience greatly – I've things to do, deadlines to meet – but now I've given into it, embraced the mindfulness of it all. Away from my desk for a blessed hour, I take in the trees and the birds, and I feel almost, almost, at peace. Of course, the moment we get home, all is forgiven between us. Her eyes brighten, her tail wags, and she smiles up at me (I swear she smiles). Truly, I'd be lost without her. She's my constant companion, my significant other.
