Social isolation fund benefits residents

After collaborative working between our Community Investment Team and Care and Support teams, the Tackling Social Isolation Fund was launched.

Schemes were encouraged to apply for funding of between £100 and £1,000 for projects which had been designed to reduce the social isolation of residents.

The project has made a positive difference to people’s lives and I couldn’t be prouder. It’s been an absolute joy to work on and it’s so rewarding knowing that we’re doing our bit to deliver the Group’s Improving Lives strategy.

Sareeta Sharma, Community Investment Lead for the South, said: “I work closely with the Care and Support schemes and through conversations with colleagues and visits to schemes, we recognised the need to tackle social isolation, which is where the idea for the pilot came from.

“It’s been a very successful project, with 19 successful applications.

“I really enjoyed learning about the different ideas at all the schemes and it’s been wonderful to hear from colleagues and customers how successful the project has been in addressing social isolation and helping improve customers’ health and wellbeing.

“The project has made a positive difference to people’s lives and I couldn’t be prouder.

“It’s been an absolute joy to work on and it’s so rewarding knowing that we’re doing our bit to deliver the Group’s Improving Lives strategy.”

We love having a game of pool most evenings. It’s definitely better than sitting in my flat alone at night. It’s good fun and we always encourage other residents to come and have a game or just watch. We’re all getting so much pleasure and enjoyment from having it.

Some examples of what the grants were awarded for include the purchase of a pool table at Windmill Court in King’s Lynn. This has allowed residents to get competitive and play games against each other.

One resident said: “We love having a game of pool most evenings. It’s definitely better than sitting in my flat alone at night.

“It’s good fun and we always encourage other residents to come and have a game or just watch. We’re all getting so much pleasure and enjoyment from having it.”

Our Kestrel Court scheme in Peterborough bought new outdoor benches and lounge furniture for residents to enjoy. They’re often heard chatting among themselves and have said how lovely it’s been to sit outside on the new benches and now the weather has got colder, they’ve got new lounge furniture to relax on with a cup of tea or coffee.