So it is official, our National Lottery Reaching Communities funded Myplace hubs, in Bolton and Wyre, have been up and running for over a year.
As well as connecting people with nature in order to improve their wellbeing, our sessions in Bolton and Wyre have also been setting out with the mission to bring people together in order to tackle loneliness.
Warming up round the fire at Bolton
Loneliness is a feeling most of us will have experienced. It is unpleasant when experienced infrequently at passing moments of our lives, but when experienced for prolonged periods of time, research has proven that loneliness can have a significant impact on our health, both mental and physical.
Loneliness increases the risk of dementia, high blood pressure, stroke and heart disease as well as severe depression. 1 in 20 adults in the UK have said they often or always feel lonely.
Myplace participants volunteering on the the Fylde sand dunes
Myplace are taking action to tackle loneliness. Over the past year, our Bolton and Wyre hubs have brought 86 people closer to each other, to nature and to their communities. We asked all of our current participants if they feel like Myplace has helped them to feel less lonely, less isolated and more connected to other people. We were overjoyed when 100% of participants answered yes, they do feel Myplace has directly helped them to feel more connected.
Together with the Reaching Communities fund we have bought 86 people closer to nature and to their communities. 100% of participants told us Myplace has directly helped them to feel more connected.
With the funding from The National Lottery Reaching Communities fund, our aim for the next year is to continue to bring people together through nature. Our weekly green wellbeing sessions, peer mentoring and volunteering within Myplace, alongside finding opportunities for participants to progress within their local communities, will enable our participants to feel less lonely long term.
With three different services for participants to get involved with - digital online group sessions, 1:1 phone calls and outdoor face-to-face group sessions - Myplace is now even more accessible. If you or someone you know is interested in any of our services, please visit our webpage.
