Agenda item

The Health Inequalities Scrutiny review highlighted loneliness as a factor affecting people’s health and wellbeing. This item will focus on the issue of Loneliness and how the Council can make best use of the organisations already available to residents and how the Council can support these organisations to recruit volunteers. Issues around loneliness in the borough include recruitment of volunteers, identification of those in need, referral pathways, transport and affordability.

This note summarises some of the discussion from the seminar held on 24 October 2018 ‘Tackling isolation and loneliness in the UK: improving wellbeing and social inclusion at all ages’ by Public Policy Exchange attended by Cllr Wheatley, Vice Chair of this committee, and Yasmine Makin, Policy Officer for Scrutiny.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Committee notes the information in this document as background to the presentation on loneliness.

The Committee received a report summarising some of the discussion from the seminar held on 24 October 2018 ‘Tackling isolation and loneliness in the UK: Improving wellbeing and social inclusion at all stages’ by Public Policy Exchange attended by Cllr Liz Wheatley and Yasmine Makin, Policy Officer for Scrutiny. The Health Inequalities Scrutiny review highlighted loneliness as a factor affecting people’s health and wellbeing. The report focused on the issue of Loneliness and how the Council could make best use of the organisations already available to residents and how the Council could support these organisations to recruit volunteers. Issues around loneliness in the borough included recruitment of volunteers, identification of those in need, referral pathways, transport and affordability.

The Committee received a presentation which started by highlighting the distinction between loneliness and isolation. Age UK defined ‘isolation’ as separation from social or familial contact, community involvement, or access to services, while ‘loneliness’ could be understood as an individual’s personal, subjective sense of lacking these things. It was, therefore, possible to be isolated without being lonely, and to be lonely without being isolated.

The new resource on reducing social isolation highlighted several groups at increased risk of this issue, including new mothers, children and young people experiencing bullying, people with long-term conditions and disability, unemployed adults, carers and retired people. Members noted that helping to address loneliness through Service Level Agreements were 12 voluntary sector organisations:

Cranleigh Arts Centre – Men in Sheds Project (supporting older men)

Farnham Assist – knit and natter, pie and pint club and Sunday lunches

Hoppa Dial a Ride Service - enabled people to get out and about

Community Meals Service – Freshly cooked meals – Monday to Friday

Farnham Area Timebank - connecting people that give their time and receive support – gardening, taking people to the shops

It was also noted that the Borough Leisure Centres delivered a number of activities such as:

·         Exercise referral from health professional – prescribing physical activity instead of medication – at all leisure centres

·         Forever Active/Senior Sports clubs – multi-sport sessions and swimming for older people with a strong social element – at all leisure centres

·         Fit for Life 60+ classes in the community (Haslemere, Godalming)

·         Walks for Health in all four population centres

·         Otago Falls Prevention classes and Escape Pain sessions in Haslemere and Farnham

·         Cage cricket at Farnham Leisure Centre – indoor fully inclusive

·         Memory Lane café – for people with dementia and their carers at Cranleigh LC

There were also a number of volunteering opportunities to help reduce loneliness and isolation.

Councillor Jenny Else – Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing attended the meeting to listen to the Committee. She raised the importance of not just thinking of loneliness in old people as it could be a situation for anyone. The Council and other organisations were doing a lot all ready within current resources and it would be difficult to do much more.

A question was asked about if there was any issues for Hoppa who helped a lot of people and it was noted that there had been changes in legislation that could affect them. It was noted that Surrey County Council were saying could no longer tender for school contracts which was a problem as would have a knock on affect on their funding. It was suggested that a representative of Hoppa give a presentation at the next meeting so they could understand its issues and whether there was anything the Council could do to help.

A further question was asked about whether or not GP Surgery’s were being made aware of the services the Council, leisure Centres and other voluntary service were on offer. Members were advised that there was a Health and Wellbeing manager in place who had written to them all but it had been difficult to get a response. Louise Norie and Kelvin Mills noted concerns and would take through to the Prevention Group to ask that there was more engagement.

Cllr David Else asked about what they could do for those that were not quite as identifiable who were lonely. Kelvin Mills responded that they had written to GPs and it was something that need to educate people to identify. NCT classes could perhaps be approached and hospitals. Louise Norie also suggested faith communities and the support that they could provide.

The Committee noted the report and thanked officers for the presentation.