Published November 3, 2016 at 13:54
Tackling isolation and loneliness in Rossendale.
The Government has made money available to local authorities wishing to try new ways of improving the health and wellbeing of their local communities. Rossendale was successful in securing funding to run a pilot project.
In Rossendale we are focussing on the issue of social isolation and loneliness – looking at reaching more people, understanding their individual circumstances and supporting them into services and activities in the community.
L-R Stephanie Thornton, Jackie Flynn, Tony Sheppard and Melanie Whitehead the Living Well Living Better Project Team at Rossendale Borough Council
The team is made up of; Stephanie Thornton, Project Manager, Melanie Whitehead and Tony Sheppard, Community Engagement and Partnership Development Workers and Jackie Flynn, Community Development Worker.
Project Manager Stephanie Thornton explained what the project will be doing;
“Our project will be training local organisations to spot the triggers and signs of isolation and loneliness and know how and where to refer people to. We will also be working with Spice, a community development organisation, to develop a programme encouraging local people to look out for their friends and neighbours. Through our work so far we have identified the need for more community transport in Rossendale to help people access the services and activities already available across the valley.”
The team is commissioning Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale CVS to recruit and support 10 additional volunteer drivers for Rossendale.
There is also a small grants pot available to support the work of local voluntary, community and faith organisations who work with people who are socially isolated and/or lonely.
Cllr Barbara Ashworth, Portfolio holder for Customers and Health and Champion for Older People commented;
“I’m delighted that we are going forward with this project in a very practical and visible way. Commissioning CVS to enhance the Communicars scheme is acknowledgment that lack of accessible transport contributes to social isolation, so I hope more volunteer drivers will come forward.”
The project will run until the end of October 2017.
For more information contact us on 01706 252404.