Active Plus Connects Communities
The Pitch
Problem statement
COVID 19 has increased the amount of social isolation in an area of Cornwall where 62% of over 50’s reported that they occasionally, sometimes, or often felt lonely, isolated, and detached from their community. The lack of social interaction and sense of loneliness impacts all aspects of people’s lives, resulting in a deterioration in mental and physical health. Confidence, motivation and sense of purpose are reduced, and people feel lost and that they have little hope for the future. There are very few opportunities and little help for people to reverse or break the cycle of loneliness and isolation which leads to further detachment and deterioration of their health and wellbeing.
Solution
We will provide a safe space and activities that will help people to re-engage with each other and their community. Delivered by military veterans, who have experienced challenges of their own, the six-session course will use problem solving and teambuilding activities to improve confidence and generate a sense of belonging, purpose, and achievement. The veterans will inspire in a way that encourages people to work together, support each other and understand that they are not alone. We will help the group to become sustainable by identifying natural leaders and encouraging the use of their improved confidence to set up and run a project that benefits their community and other people.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
We have delivered three National Lottery funded projects that have prevented and reduced loneliness, generated a community buzz and inspired people and communities to work together. These projects have directly support over 800 people across Cornwall and have demonstrated that the help, support, course content and unique delivery by armed forces veterans provide the foundations for lasting change. With our support, groups have become sustainable, grown and become a powerful force for change within their communities; they are raising money, running activities and connecting people, other groups and support organisations. We have experience, a proven programme and demonstratable success.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| 2 x Course instructors (1 x Lead and 1 x assistant - 6 x 5 hour sessions) | £1,050 |
| Course venue (6 sessions @£60) | £360 |
| Refreshments (6 sessions @£10) | £60 |
| Travel (180 miles @45p/mile) | £81 |
| Community project (equipment, materials etc) | £150 |
| Publicity and engagement (to ensure we reach the hardest to reach/most isolated) | £100 |
| Course design, admin, management and contingency | £199 |
Beneficiaries
50 people
Expected impact
Participants attending the course will be more engaged with other people and their community. They will feel less isolated, have improved motivation and an increased sense of purpose and belonging. They will know what support and activities are available locally and feel more confident about accessing them. Peer support and increased social interaction will help people feel more positive about the future and provide the foundations to help develop, maintain and grow the group into a sustainable support network for other people. The funding will also have an impact on the community, who will benefit from a project that will provide opportunities for people to work together, continue to build individual confidence and be driven by local needs. There will also be positive outcomes for the veterans delivering the course. Their confidence, motivation,, self-esteem and sense of purpose will all be improved as they ‘help themselves by helping others’.
Track record
We have been using the experiences and skills of military veterans to deliver life changing support in the community for over 11 years and directly supported over 7,000 people. Of these, 854 were on projects that reduced and prevented loneliness and were delivered through £600,000 of National Lottery grants. These projects have allowed us to build and refine our understanding of the needs, challenges and types of support required to help people re-engage with each other and their communities. Using experience and feedback, we have developed a series of co-designed sessions that build on each other to help people improve their confidence, regain a sense of purpose, and move forward with hope. Through our projects we’ve established sustainable groups and used the ONS measure of loneliness to demonstrate positive outcomes. The groups we’ve supported have flourished, established themselves as a valuable part of their community and continue help people who are experiencing loneliness.