Campaign launched to reduce loneliness and isolation

With Christmas around the corner, a partnership of older people and Middlesbrough organisations are working together to reduce loneliness and isolation in the town, with a programme launched at Teesside University.

Ageing Better Middlesbrough has received £6 million over six years from the Big Lottery Fund. Loneliness and isolation are becoming a bigger health risk to our rapidly ageing population, with some research suggesting that it is just as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Age UK and John Lewis have teamed up this year to help tackle loneliness in its famous Christmas advert about the Man on the Moon.

Ageing Better Middlesbrough’s Programme Manager, Michelle Dawson said: 'This is a real opportunity to make a difference to older people in Middlesbrough. The programme will be delivering a variety of different projects, including one to one support in people’s homes, peer friendship volunteering and specialist counselling.

'All the projects will help us better understand how loneliness effects our communities and we want to enable people to come together and find new ways to connect with each other where they live. I would urge anybody who is interested in finding out more to get in touch and become a member of Ageing Better Middlesbrough.'

The launch was held at the University's Curve building, with a welcome from Middlesbrough Councillor Mick Thompson and Emma Howitt, Chief Executive at Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind.

Teesside University will gather and assess a wide range of information to provide useful feedback about the project. One of the ways the University’s researchers will be do this is by collecting people's stories about any changes they see or experience. Dr Alison Jarvis, from the University’s School of Social Sciences, Business and Law, said: 'This project is tackling a vital issue affecting older people in Middlesbrough, doing so in a way which involves and engages them throughout.

'The University's research will be taking the same approach; working with people every step of the way and encouraging them to lead activity by equipping them to investigate what they think is important.'

If you would like more information about Ageing Better Middlesbrough or want to become a member contact 01642 257034 or email info@ageingbettermiddlesbrough.org.uk.

If you are interested in becoming involved in the University’s research contact Dr Jarvis on 01642 342312 or email a.jarvis@tees.ac.uk.

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Learn more about the Ageing Better project