I’d been alone, and I’d been lonely, before but this was different

The walking group that helps new mothers feel less alone

This Loneliness Awareness Week (14-18 June), The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK, is shining a light on the incredible community projects and charities using National Lottery funding to build social connections and tackle loneliness in Dorset.

Loneliness is a big concern. According to The National Lottery Community Fund’s most recent Community Research Index (a survey of more than 7,000 people across the UK) almost half of respondents (47%) say that tackling loneliness and isolation is an important priority for the year ahead. At the same time, recent research reveals that the number of people in the UK feeling “often” or “always” lonely has jumped by more than a million since last year - from 2.6 million to 3.7 million.

Communities are keen to get to grips with the challenge – in the past five years The National Lottery Community Fund has given out over £500 million to charities working to address loneliness and social isolation and build connections and relationships, including £178 million since March 2020 alone.

In the South West alone, 313 projects have received a share of £18,274,126 National Lottery funding since the start of the pandemic to tackle the issue.

Walking with Families, a new initiative from family support organisation Home Start North Dorset, is just one of many local groups that have stepped up to support people feeling isolated during this challenging time. It has been awarded £4,000 of National Lottery funding to create a safe space for pregnant women and new mums with children under 5 to meet, and forge bonds.

The National Lottery Community Fund has also combined forces with the Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on the Local Connections Fund – a £4 million funding programme designed to help build connections within communities. Earlier this year, more than 850 community groups benefitted from the first round of Local Connections Fund grants, with the second round opening to applications 28 June.

The funding is particularly aimed at small organisations with an income of less than £50,000 that are working with communities more vulnerable to social isolation. To find out more, visit: https://www.tnlcommunityfund.org.uk/funding/programmes/local-connections-fund.

Vix Madel, Support Coordinator at Walking with Families, said: “Every age group has suffered from loneliness as a result of COVID, but I think the mums who have given birth over the last year have had to cope with so much on their own… Thanks to National Lottery funding we have been able to run Walking with Families, a walking group for parents which has been a huge success.”

Zoë, regular participant in Walking with Families, said: “When we went into lockdown I found myself pregnant and shielding with an 8 month baby, with my husband working away Monday to Friday. It was really difficult. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it’s only when your support network is taken away that you realise how true that is… Walking with Families has been the motivation to get out with my kids and build camaraderie with people going through similar things to me.”

Rowan Miller, Head of Funding for the South West at The National Lottery Community Fund, said: “As we continue to feel the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, tackling the stigma around loneliness and making it okay to ask for help remains more important than ever.

“Loneliness affects people of all ages and from all walks of life, and we know that because of lockdown many people are experiencing isolation for the very first time. That’s why it’s so important that local groups receive the funding they need to support people to connect, reduce feelings of isolation and help their local communities come together. We’re delighted to provide this lifeline on behalf of National Lottery players and also in conjunction with Government – this support will help many more people to thrive.”

Thanks to National Lottery players, £36 million is raised every week for the UK’s good causes, and £41 billion has been distributed to 565,000 good causes across the UK since 1994.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk