Funding aims to help tackle lonliness in Warwickshire - The Rugby Observer

Funding aims to help tackle lonliness in Warwickshire

Rugby Editorial 4th Jul, 2022   0

A PROJECT to reduce loneliness and social isolation in Warwickshire has seen 58 groups and individuals receive a total of £47,000 in grant funding.

Around 40,000 people in the county are currently living with chronic loneliness. The pandemic had a profound impact on the nation’s mental health, with successive lockdowns damaging social connections, jobs and finances.

And it also disrupted people’s ability to engage in their usual coping mechanisms and made them feel more isolated from friends and family.

This funding was made available as part of the Improving Mental Wellbeing in Warwickshire project, and residents were invited to apply for small amounts of money to help develop local initiatives that will help those who are lonely and socially isolated.




The successful projects are based throughout the county, with all five districts and boroughs receiving a share of the funding. Individuals and unincorporated groups could apply for up to £500 of funding, while incorporated groups could apply for up to £1000.

The successful bids include social lunches, trips, support services, and activity groups, among many other creative ideas to tackle loneliness and social isolation on a local level.


Individual projects target a wide variety of people, including both young people and older people, men and women, LGBTQ+, BAME communities, people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, parents, bereaved people and more.

Visit www.warwickshire.gov.uk/health-wellbeing/become-loneliness-ambassador to see a full list of the funded projects.

Warwickshire County Council health spokeswoman Margaret Bell said: “Loneliness can affect anyone at any time in their life, and we know that it can have a significant impact on your health and wellbeing. We want to make sure that no one ever feels truly alone. These new initiatives will provide more opportunities for people to make connections and build relationships with others.”

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