Working in Partnership to Tackle Loneliness and Isolation
Online Event 19 October 2021, 9:00am - 3:00pm
Day 1
9:00am
Online Registration
9:30am
Chair’s Welcome Address
Dr Sarah Hotham, Chartered Psychologist, Senior Research Fellow, University of Kent & Centre for Health Services Studies & Public Health Research Adviser, Kent County Council
9:40am
Keynote Address: Tackling Loneliness And Social Isolation During The Coronavirus Lockdown
Jennie Morrison-Cowan, CEO, Know Dementia
10:00am
Keynote Address: Reviewing The Lessons Learned Through Lockdown By Charities, Councils And Social Enterprises Helping Lonely People Stay Connected
- Helping people to start and sustain conversations and setting up activities to stimulate social interaction
- Keeping in touch with people in other ways including sending letters and postcards and offering sessions or resources around techniques such as mindfulness
- Addressing challenges such as anxiety, bereavement, low mood, depression and suicidal ideation
- Offering a range of responses that organisations can offer to people facing difficulties
- Recognising the need for additional training and support for staff and volunteers
Robin Hewings, Programme Director, Campaign To End Loneliness
10:20am
Keynote Address: Assessing The Impact Of The Pandemic On Loneliness On Children And Young People
- Tracking changes in the UK’s mental health in real time in order to tackle issues as they emerge
- Managing the impact of loneliness as a result of the pandemic as a key risk factor of long-term mental health problems
- Assessing the current state of loneliness in children and young people as the group most affected by loneliness both before and during the pandemic
- Highlighting the role of social media as a cause of heightened loneliness compared to older generations
- Raising awareness of loneliness in young people through the Unlock Loneliness Campaign and providing tips on how to cope
Katrina Jenkins, Targeted Programmes Manager (Families, Children, & Young People), Mental Health Foundation
10:40am
Questions And Answers Session
11:05am
Break and Networking
11:35am
Keynote Address: Preventing The Development Of Health And Care Needs Through Early Intervention At Local Level Through Partnerships Between The Council, Voluntary And Community Sector
- Assessing existing risk factors for loneliness and isolation and new and emerging risk factors as a direct result of Covid-19
- Using local insight and networks to identify people who may be isolated or experiencing loneliness
- Delivering foundation services including first contact schemes, formal social care assessments and social prescribing in primary care
- Supporting group activities and befriending schemes and giving access to psychological support for people who have broader mental health issues
- Collaborating with organisations that encourage communities or individuals to engage with and support each other
Cllr Rosemary Sexton, Green Party Councillor, Solihull, LGA Lead Member, Community Wellbeing Board
11:55am
Case Study: Forming An Innovative Health And Social Care Partnership To Help Tackle Loneliness And Social Isolation
- Setting up a two-year social prescribing project pilot scheme run by ONE Haverhill partnership and involving the council and a number of partner agencies
- Using GP, nurse and self-referrals to access Haverhill LifeLink and meeting with a LifeLink Coordinator to connect patients with people and activities in their area
- Reducing pressure on GPs and the NHS by reducing repeat GP appointments, wider NHS appointments and prescription costs
- Providing a bridge to help people to re-engage with community groups while improving their health and wellbeing
- Building a personal action plan for patients tailored to address what is important to them and offering activities and opportunities for volunteering and employment
Lizzi Cocker, Families and Communities Officer, West Suffolk Council
12:15pm
Case Study: Tackling Loneliness And Isolation In Rural Communities Through A Rural Coffee Connect Barista Van And In Touch Loneliness Awareness Training
- Using a coffee van as a vehicle to reach and connect people with others in their community
- Providing interactive and accessible sessions including activities to help with relaxation, staying physically active, learning new skills and building connections with others
- Setting up a telephone befriending service during the COVID-19 pandemic to offer companionship
- Delivering free ‘In Touch’ training sessions to increase awareness of loneliness and help people to take action to support those at risk
- Sharing useful links, tools and resources to help tackle loneliness
Sam Howlett, Executive Director, Rural Community Council
12:35pm
Questions And Answers Session
12:55pm
Lunch And Networking
1:40pm
Keynote Address: Assessing The Findings Of The APPG On Loneliness Inquiry And Making Recommendations Across Key Areas To Rebuild Social Connections
- Optimising national leadership to set the strategic direction and fund the activities and infrastructure needed for a ‘Connected Recovery’ from the Covid-19 pandemic
- Investing in the community infrastructure that is needed to tackle loneliness and social isolation
- Addressing gaps in transport provision to ensure people can maintain social connections
- Ensuring that housing plays a part in supporting people’s ability to connect
- Closing the digital divide to develop effective online responses to loneliness
Dean Russell MP, Vice Chair, APPG on Loneliness
2:00pm
Case Study: Delivering A Range Of Interventions To Support Older People In Reducing Loneliness And Isolation Through Partnership Working Across A City Region
- Supporting older people in the community through adult social care provision of care support at home and floating housing support
- Signposting to and investing in community support networks to avoid the escalation of needs linked to isolation
- Developing commissioning strategies that encourage innovation and flexible approaches
- Learning from the Bristol Aging Better scheme and addressing loneliness and isolation through an Age-Friendly Bristol
- Assessing the most effective interventions which addressed socio-economic factors and helped people make healthier life choices
Carly Urbanski, Head of Programme, Bristol Aging Better
2:20pm
Case Study: Adopting A Multi-Agency Approach To Building Communities And Promoting Active Aging To Support Older People At Risk Of Loneliness And Social Isolation
- Reflect on this past year of enforced isolation, how older people have been framed in negative terms, the physical and emotional impact this has had
- The virtual world and how it has sustained us, our relationships and our sense of ‘togetherness’. It meant we were still heard
- What recovery looks like for older people, and how we are tackling deconditioning
- Putting in the building blocks to reconnect for our friends and neighbours.
Elaine Unegbu, Chair of the Age Friendly Manchester Older People’s Board, Greater Manchester Older People’s Network
2:40pm
Questions And Answers Session
3:00pm
Chair’s Summary And Close
Dr Sarah Hotham, Chartered Psychologist, Senior Research Fellow, University of Kent & Centre for Health Services Studies & Public Health Research Adviser, Kent County Council