Bolton charity working to combat loneliness in the borough

Almost 30 per cent of UK residents over 16 said they often, sometimes or always feel lonely in the ONS’ Opinions and Lifestyle Survey  – a record high since 2020.

And the North West is known for its elevated loneliness rates.

In Lancashire, six per cent of Bolton over-16s and adults surveyed said they felt lonely, and almost 20 per cent in Blackburn and Darwen.

The Campaign to End Loneliness (CEL) defines the condition as “a subjective, unwelcome feeling of lack or loss of companionship.”

And the World Health Organisation has called it a "global health concern".

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has said: “Loneliness increases the risk for premature death by 26 per cent.

“More broadly, lacking social connection can increase it as much as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day.”

Family Action BAND event (Image: Family Action)

Bolton charity Family Action BAND has been on the frontline of battling loneliness.

It provides support, social groups and activities for adults with mental health issues.

This year, more than 500 people accessed their services as of March.

From April to March, almost twice the people attended as the same time last year.

Rita Croome, Operational Manager at Family Action BAND, said: “We've had more people coming through our doors saying they are experiencing loneliness.”

And the pandemic has played a huge part.

She said: “Coronavirus’ legacy is more people are lonely.

“People who were already feeling that way before the pandemic have felt lonelier after it.

“Its imposed isolation caused people to pull into themselves.

“And it had a massive impact on people who were mentally or physically vulnerable.

Not only people who lived alone were affected, she said.

Rita said: “Parents worried about children whose socialisation slowed because of the pandemic could feel very alone.

“Even though they're living in a family unit.”

BAND  workers said they had to spring into action during the pandemic.

Petra Fehn, Service Manager at BAND, said: “We had to stay open.

“Many people came in needing face-to-face support who were already lonely because of mental health conditions.

“They might have fallen out with family, or their relationships broke down a long time ago, so they needed human interaction.”

With social connection moving online at the time, BAND saw people who couldn’t use or afford the technology left behind.

Petra said: “We recognised that digital inclusion was a problem very quickly.

“We applied for funding for tablets and began to run courses teaching digital skills.”

Even then, some people in the UK were still reluctant to seek help, Petra said.

She said: “I have worked with marginalised communities in Bolton and saw there was still a lot of stigma around mental health, especially with older people.

“There was a fear of people pointing fingers at their family.”

Men have also felt stigma. But BAND saw that coronavirus did a lot to shift it.

Petra said: “We had a massive increase in men in their 40s and 50s coming to our service during and after the pandemic.

“I think their social networks broke down. Pubs and other third spaces were closed. There was nowhere to go.”

With long waits in NHS hospitals and mental health issues accelerating after the pandemic, BAND wanted to offer a service.

Last year, it opened the Bolton Listening Lounge, an “alternative to A&E”.

People who were in mental distress or struggling to cope with life stresses like financial issues or bereavement could come and get support from 3.00 PM to 10.00 PM daily.

Petra said: “When the Listening Lounge first started, we had younger people coming in who were so isolated during coronavirus and their anxiety levels were sky high.

“Six months ago, a young woman came in who had not left her house since the pandemic.

“It was shocking.”

Almost 200 people have come to the Listening Lounge asking for help since it opened and they offered over 1,000 therapeutic contacts.

Listening Lounge team (Image: Family Action)

Listening Lounge is a new service, but BAND has been around for 30 years.

It has worked one-on-one with people with mental health issues focusing on recovery.

And run social groups, putting on activities like football clubs, gardening, quiz groups and women’s wellness.

Petra said: “It’s very daunting when you come into a service like our social groups when you're already feeling very anxious or low on confidence.

“Fortunately, we have a really nice environment.

“People tend to bond since most have had anxiety, stress or loneliness.

“Service users who've been with us for a while are very caring and understanding when somebody new comes in.

“They take them under their wing.”

For more information on BAND, visit https://family-action.org.uk/services/band-mental-health-support/ or call 01204 380643

The Bolton Listening Lounge is at YMCA Bolton on 125 Deansgate and open any day of the week from 3.00 to 10.00 PM. To book an appointment call 01204 917739 or email boltonll@family-action.org.uk 

The Listening Lounge offers a drop-in service without an appointment from 4.00-to 7.00 PM.