New Project to Combat Rural Isolation

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

A new service which aims to work with individuals and communities to help overcome rural isolation with the over 50’s in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The service known as “Rural Connections” is managed by Age Concern Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan and is part of a larger project known as the Friendly AdvantAGE Project led by another voluntary sector organisation, The Vale Centre for Voluntary Services.

Following an audit of gaps in services that tackled loneliness and isolation a successful application was submitted to the Big Lottery (BIG) AdvantAGE Programme to develop five new types of befriending projects across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Jane Platts, the ‘Rural Connections’ co-ordinator explained that there has been shown to be a serious problem with isolation, especially with the over 50’s in the Rural Vale.  So this initiative aims to help combat that by working with the individual communities. 

Initially focusing on St Brides, Ogmore by Sea and Colwinston, Jane will be working with individuals to establish befriending support and assisting people to have the confidence to help make friendships also to develop groups within each area of shared interests.

The project will run for four years during which time it aims to assist the most isolated people in the Vale of Glamorgan, to build their confidence, to meet new friends and increase their social contacts.

For further information on this and the AdvantAGE Project please contact Jane on 01446 795631.