On Monday 23 September we will be helping to launch the United in Kind movement to tackle loneliness through kindness and we’d like as many organisations, communities and individuals as possible to get involved with us.
Research has shown that one in five people experience loneliness at some time, and that kindness could be a tool in tackling the problem. Partners across Essex have therefore come together to support and enable local communities to break the downward spiral of isolation, loneliness and poor mental health. There are hundreds of community and voluntary organisations, charities and groups who are already active in running services and activities.
The United in Kind movement and local United in Kind coaches will be supporting and empowering them to do more and to build capacity, as well as attract and train new volunteers. By supporting our communities, we hope that many more people will be inspired to volunteer or take action in other kind ways to address isolation, for example by setting up a new group. Why not get involved with your volunteers, colleagues, and service users and help connect your community with kindness today? Just one small kind act can make all the difference to somebody who may be experiencing loneliness. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Call a family member you haven’t spoken to in a while
- Talk to the person behind you in the supermarket queue
- Volunteer for a local charity
- Offer to make a tea round for your colleagues
- Put out an elderly neighbour’s bin
The campaign launches on Monday 23rd September and there will be events happening in Uttlesford. In Dunmow our pop-up coffee hub “Drinks with Community Links” will be promoting kindness and you will get the opportunity to meet Uttlesford’s United in Kind Coach, Kim Clark, who will be based with CVSU and working out of the Uttlesford Community Hub. Kim would love to meet you! On Tuesday and Wednesday she will be supporting the fire service and police with the Safe Well Secure events in Stansted.
Let’s change this together by connecting our community with kindness #UnitedinKind. For more information email Kim at kim.clark@westessexcan.org
