New group to tackle loneliness

The membership of a new group to advise on addressing social isolation has been announced.

In December 2018 the Scottish Government launched its first strategy focused on social isolation and loneliness in society, backed by £1 million of funding.

A range of public, third sector organisations and experts who helped develop the strategy will now put it into action.

Minister for Older People and Equalities Christina McKelvie announced the members of the group on a visit to Dunbar Grammar School’s ‘Cross Generation’ intergenerational project. This project has been running at the school for 16 years and includes monthly sessions for lunches, day trips and a film club with older members of the local community.

Minister for Older People and Equalities Christina McKelvie said: “As one of the first governments in the world to address the issue of social isolation in society, we want to promote positive attitudes and tackle the stigma associated with loneliness.

“It can affect any one, at any stage, or from any walk of life and that’s why we invited charities like Youthlink Scotland to be members of the group. The membership of the new group has valuable experience to help with this important work.

“Projects such as ‘Cross Generation’ are exactly the kind of activity which can help beat loneliness. It was great to see the interaction between the generations, both learning from each other and enjoying each other’s company. Contact between different generations can help build understanding, strengthen communities and allow the sharing of invaluable skills, experiences and perspectives.”

Alison Clyde, director of Generations Working Together, who help organise the ‘Cross Generation’ group said: “We were thrilled that the Minister could visit an intergenerational project herself to see it in action.

“The projects bringing younger and older people together are beneficial for both generations. They also tackle loneliness and isolation as well as being highly beneficial for all the community.”

Full membership of the National Implementation Group includes:

Scottish Government
COSLA
Voluntary Health Scotland
Befriending Networks
Campaign to End Loneliness
Transport Scotland
Architecture and Place Scotland
Age Scotland
Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Youthlink Scotland
NHS Health Scotland
Generations Working Together
sportScotland

Read the social isolation and loneliness strategy, A Connected Scotland.

More about the Generations Working Together

Slightly ironic, this: see this morning’s earlier post about the LOOPS service being forced to close, and previous posts about the impact that Health & Social Care funding cuts are likely to have on older, isolated and vulnerable people in Edinburgh.

There’s the rhetoric – and then there’s the reality – Ed