New Project to Combat Loneliness

Tuesday, 31 January 2012

A service which aims to reduce loneliness, isolation and improve wellbeing among older people has started in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

The service known as the “Lets Get Out” 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 Council 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 the two counties.

The “Lets Get Out” Project is one of these. Two co-ordinators have been appointed to carry out this project, both of whom have already worked with Age Concern for a considerable time and have essential experience in this line of work. Debbie Plenty will be the co-ordinator for Cardiff and Samantha Jenkins for the Vale of Glamorgan.

Commenting on the new project Debbie explained “the project will work with individuals 50+ who have lost confidence to do some of the everyday things they enjoy, helping them to identify their goals and aspirations and to assist in resolving any barriers they have to achieving them”.

Samantha went on to stress that “the role of the co-coordinators is to share their knowledge of what is available in the community, encouraging and supporting people to become more involved with the help of volunteers”.

The project will run for four years during which time it aims to assist 200 of the most isolated people in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan, to build their confidence and to meet new friends.

The new project will build on the charity's expertise and will include a new structured programme of up to 6 months support helping people to gain the confidence to build their social networks - all of which will focus on creating strong friendship groups among people who would otherwise be isolated in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.  

Age Concern Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan is currently recruiting volunteers to assist with this project. For further information on: the AdvantAGE Project or to find out how to become a volunteer, please contact Debbie on 029 2068 3687 for queries relating to the Cardiff area and Samantha on 07584 346014 for the Vale of Glamorgan.