New Shropshire Community Foundation grant in partnership with Telford & Wrekin Council announced
Councillor Kelly Middleton, Telford & Wrekin Council’s
Cabinet Member for Healthy, Safer & Stronger Communities and Partnerships.
We’re delighted to announce the launch of a new grant focused on tackling adult loneliness in Telford & Wrekin.
The grant follows a partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Community Foundation.
New grant announced
The Welcoming Spaces grant aims to support community and voluntary organisations in tackling adult loneliness in the borough of Telford and Wrekin through the provision of social activities. Not-for-profit organisations including community or voluntary organisations, faith-based organisations, registered charities, Town or Parish Councils and social enterprises, can apply for up to £500 (one application per organisation) to support new or existing activities, which are open and inclusive to all and aim to tackle loneliness and reduce social isolation in adults.
Council Leader Shaun Davies (centre) with two residents
at one of the warm and welcoming spaces in Oakengates in February 2023.”
Tackling adult loneliness
There is growing recognition that loneliness is a serious problem and carries costs that are comparable with the health impacts of smoking and obesity. It has implications for individuals and communities and can affect a person’s mental and physical health.
Campaign to End Loneliness report that in 2022, 49.63% of adults (25.99 million people) in the UK reported feeling lonely occasionally, sometimes, often or always’, they define loneliness as ‘a subjective, unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship. It happens when there is a mismatch between the quantity and quality of the social relationships that we have, and those that we want’.
Chair of Trustees Selina Graham DL commented:
“Welcoming spaces has identified that loneliness is a huge threat to health in the UK. This is a great opportunity for the Shropshire Community Foundation to work with Telford & Wrekin council identifying and helping people to fight loneliness and feel more connected to their community and to each other – connecting people who care with causes that matter.”
In partnership
Together, Shropshire Community Foundation and Telford & Wrekin want residents to have access to quality opportunities to enable them to feel connected to their community and each other, so Telford & Wrekin Council have made a total of £15,000 available to support projects that seek to do just this.
Further information and application forms can be found here.
