{"id":1000,"date":"2019-10-17T09:45:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T08:45:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/participation-lab\/?p=1000"},"modified":"2020-07-29T12:56:49","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T11:56:49","slug":"how-can-loneliness-and-social-isolation-best-be-prevented-tackled-in-reading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/participation-lab\/how-can-loneliness-and-social-isolation-best-be-prevented-tackled-in-reading\/","title":{"rendered":"How can loneliness and social isolation best be prevented & tackled in Reading?"},"content":{"rendered":"

In our latest Think-Piece, Ruth Evans, Participation Lab Leader, discusses how loneliness and social isolation can best be prevented and tackled in Reading. The Participation Lab report, published today, is based on her research with Olivia Bridger, recent Geography graduate, for a Undergraduate Research Opportunities Programme (UROP) project commissioned by the Health and Wellbeing Team, Reading Borough Council.<\/p>\n

Our research demonstrates the closely entwined relationship between isolation and loneliness, and how these are linked to health and wellbeing. Loneliness represents both a cause and consequence of emotional, mental and physical ill health. By focusing on societal, situational and personal risk factors and barriers that prevent people from developing good social connections and networks, the research demonstrates the complex, multi-faceted nature of loneliness and social isolation.<\/p>\n

Tackling loneliness has become a key priority for local and central government in England in recent years, with the Government\u2019s Strategy for Tackling Loneliness published in October 2018, following the appointment of a Minister for Loneliness. The policy focus on loneliness was largely spearheaded by the work of the late Jo Cox, Member of Parliament, and the Commission for Loneliness established after her death that sought to continue the work she started. As the Government Strategy<\/a> document recognises, loneliness is not new, but there is an increasing body of evidence pointing to the negative effects of loneliness on people\u2019s social wellbeing, in addition to their physical and mental health.<\/p>\n

Local authorities and third sector organisations are rapidly responding to this new policy focus; Reading Borough Council identified \u2018Reducing loneliness and social isolation\u2019 as one of its eight priorities for Health and Wellbeing for 2017-2020 and a Multi-Agency Steering Group on Loneliness and Social Isolation in Reading was established in 2017.<\/p>\n

Our research in Reading shows how societal factors, such as cuts in public services, stigmatization of particular groups or barriers to statutory service provision, for example, may further marginalise people who are already vulnerable to loneliness due to their particular situation or circumstances, such as experiencing mental illness, disability, ageing and loss of mobility, caring responsibilities, living alone, bereavement or other troubling changes and disruptions across the lifecourse.<\/p>\n

It has been widely recognised that there is no \u2018one-size-fits-all\u2019 approach to tackling loneliness and social isolation. Our research with practitioners and service users, volunteers and community members who may be vulnerable to loneliness identified a number of best practices in alleviating and preventing loneliness and social isolation in Reading. These include:<\/p>\n