45
75
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REDUCING SOCIAL ISOLATION Creating Connections
Social Impact Report
“Creating Connections is replacing lifelong friends who I lost when I moved to Worthing two years ago.”
“It has saved my life as when I feel sad and lonely, I know where to call.”
45
“Since coming to the group, I have managed to achieve so many different projects, which I am very proud of.”
75
22
“When my Macmillan Care Worker suggested I came to Creating Connections, I thought it was not for me but how wrong I was, I have met old friends from years ago.”
Introduction Foreword by Catherine Howe Chief Executive, Adur and Worthing Councils Making sure our older residents are able to fully participate and be part of our community has never been more important. As we all start to explore what it really means to be part of an aging population and think about how we rewire our communities to embrace the fact we are living longer, we need to think about what that means in human terms and how we make sure that no-one ages alone. The social impact described here translates into individual moments of connection and kindness which are beyond value in terms of the difference they make to people’s lives. As we reflect on the events of the last few years, the pandemic and cost of living crisis have further isolated people. The work of the Creating Connections programme has made a huge contribution to addressing these challenges. As a Council, we believe that being able to participate is fundamental to being part of a thriving community and this work is helping older residents do exactly that. Participation doesn’t have to have a purpose beyond connection and camaraderie - and if those connections make it easier for people to connect, to offer and to ask for help, then even better. I would like to extend my thanks to Guild Care and also to all the supporters of this work.
Foreword by Alex Brooks-Johnson Guild Care Chief Executive Officer Growing older is inevitable; it is something we all share. What should not be inevitable, however, is the loneliness and isolation that many in our community face, especially vulnerable older individuals. Losing connections with the community, and vital services and support within it, can lead to depression, anxiety, health issues, and can ultimately be fatal. Creating Connections provides people over the age of 65 with the chance to get out of the house, meet people, pursue hobbies, reconnect or connect with old friends and make new ones, and get the support, advice, and guidance needed – all while having fun and something to look forward to. Our groups range from drumming to bingo, fish and chips to physical activities; there is something for everyone. We also run groups where people can get help and support, including befriending with our amazing volunteers. If you have supported our project in any way, thank you, and I hope you enjoy reading about the changes you have helped make happen. If you haven’t yet supported us and are in a position to do so, we would love to talk to you about how we can maximise the social impact of your generosity. Thank you.
What is the difference between loneliness and social isolation? Feeling lonely is not necessarily the same as being alone. Loneliness is linked to social isolation, but it is also distinctly different. Most of us will experience loneliness at some point in our lives, such as when we relocate to a new neighbourhood or lose a loved one. Loneliness is generally defined as “a subjective and unwelcome feeling which results from a mismatch in the quality and quantity of social relationships we have and those that we desire”.1 Social isolation is described as “having few social relationships or infrequent social contact with others”.2 Some people can spend lots of time on their own and feel content and others may be surrounded by people and feel disconnected from them. There are an increasing number of chronically lonely older people living lives in severe social isolation often linked to bereavement, disability and frailty. 20% of people over 75 have said they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour, or family member.3
“The singing group should be renamed happy hour, I love it.”
References 1 Perlman, D., & Peplau, L. A. (1982). Theoretical approaches to loneliness. Loneliness: A sourcebook of current theory, research and therapy, 123-134. 2 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, And Medicine (2020). Social isolation and loneliness in older adults: opportunities for the health care system. Washington, District of Columbia: National Academies Press. 3 NHS (2022). Loneliness in Older People. [online] NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/ feelings-symptoms-behaviours/feelings-and-symptoms/loneliness-in-older-people/.
The Challenges Worthing has an ageing population. The 2021 census stated that there were 111,400 people living in Worthing and 24,900 of these people were aged 65 or over. This was an increase of 15.4% in the last ten years and 22% of the total population in Worthing.4 Older people are at increased risk of loneliness and social isolation. There are four key contributors to increased loneliness among older people:
• Bereavement • Loss of mobility
• Declining health • Decreasing personal funds
The consequences of isolation Older people who are lonely are:
twice
Nearly as likely to visit a GP.
300%
Over more likely to suffer depression. Lacking social connections has been compared to smoking
15 cigarettes a day
through increased likelihood of diabetes, strokes and heart disease.
30% more
chance of an emergency admission to hospital.
twice
Nearly as likely to develop dementia in the following 15 years.
Without an appropriate solution, the quality of life of people over 65 can decline as people become disconnected from their community.
Future Cities Catapult – Social isolation and loneliness landscape UK 5
References 4 www.ons.gov.uk. How the population changed in Worthing, Census 2021 - ONS. [online] Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/ censuspopulationchange/E07000229 [Accessed 11 Jan. 2024]. 5 Griffiths, H. (n.d.). Social isolation and loneliness in the UK. [online] Available at: https://cp.catapult.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/ Social-Isolation-and-Loneliness-Landscape-UK.pdf.
Creating Connections - a solution Guild Care developed “Creating Connections” as part of its commitment to reduce social isolation and loneliness among older people in Worthing.
15%
said they would like one to one befriending support
83%
said they would like access to more group activities
Older people in Worthing told us that the most important factors for them are an opportunity to form friendships and to do something meaningful with their day. People were asked what they had missed when we had to stop face-to-face services during the pandemic. 73% reported seeing their friends, while 50% reported it was the opportunity to exercise and keep fit. We also asked about future service provision. 83% said they would like access to more group activities, 15% said they would like one to one befriending support in their home and 2% felt that digital support already met their needs. We launched “Creating Connections” in 2021 to tackle social isolation and loneliness in Worthing, linking older people who feel isolated and/ or lonely with community volunteers who wish to contribute to their local community.
2 How Creating Connections helps There are an increasing number of older people who are impacted by loneliness and social isolation.
Creating Connections delivers the following outcomes for people • Confidence and self esteem • Sense of purpose and belonging • Friendship • New skills • Feeling more valued • Optimism about the future
What Creating Connections does to help • Befriending • Group activities • Signposting to other services • Bereavement support • Physical activity and wellbeing • Hot meals • Transport
100 signposted
756 transported
1 The challenges faced by
people as they grow older Worthing currently has a demographic where 22.3% of its population is aged 65 or over. There are an increasing number of older people who are impacted by loneliness and social isolation. More than a million older people said they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour or family member, and 3.6 million people said TV is their main form of company.6
Reference
22.3% of all people living in Worthing are aged 65 or older
More than a million older people said they go over a month without speaking to a friend, neighbour, or family member
6 Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. (n.d.). Mental Health Awareness Week – Loneliness. [online] Available at: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/ cambridgeshireandpeterborough/about-us/news/articles/2022/mentalhealth-awareness/.
The Social Impact
1680 533
volunteering hours
people attended a group session in 2023 The Impact on People
• Increased community involvement • Reduced social isolation and loneliness • Increased confidence • Increased sense of purpose and belonging • Increased knowledge of other services available • Improved mental and physical health • Increased independence
• Older people live a healthy, engaging and meaningful life • Older people live safe and secure lives • Older people remain in their own homes, meaning there is less demand for residential care
% 83 more
involved in their community
“I haven’t been out in a while, so to come in somewhere & feel so welcome & at ease is wonderful.”
The impact What people told us about the impact Creating Connections has had on their lives.
90
80
78
84
83
72
70
67
69
60
50 45 40 36 30
20
10
People who spend more time with others since joining Creating Connections
People who feel less lonely since joining Creating Connections
People who feel more involved in their community since joining Creating Connections
People who feel more confident since joining Creating Connections
2022 2023
One year on One year on, Creating Connections has grown and developed, and now offers the following menu of service to older people in Worthing: A monthly Moving on from Loss Group, offering support to those recently bereaved.
Face-to-face shared group activities delivered at 10 different venues across Worthing.
One to one befriending and companionship provided by Community Volunteers via the phone, in people’s own homes or in the local community.
Opportunities for people to dine together through a range of events.
Christmas Day Lunch
to those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.
Affordable community transport to enable people to travel to and from group activity sessions.
A new members group, for those struggling to meet new people for the first time.
A Creating Connections
Focus Group, formed by members to inform service developments.
Information and
signposting
to other services.
Case studies The impact of the Creating Connections service on people’s lives. Shared Interests John, now living alone since his wife moved to a care home, found companionship and common interests with two other men at a new members group. All three had ties to the De Havilland Sea Vixen aircraft, and they later joined the Thursday social club.
Coping with Loss Mike, who was struggling after his wife’s passing, found support in the “moving on from loss” group at Creating Connections. His conversation with a fellow widower led him to seek help from Guild Care, and he now regularly attends the quiz club, feeling welcomed by everyone.
Rediscovering Creativity A husband of a Creating Connections member felt the creative club made a real difference to his wife’s wellbeing: “My wife’s deep depression had taken away her love for art and crafts, but the creative club has been a game-changer for her well-being. She’s started painting again at home and even shared her artwork with the group. I’m beginning to see the woman she used to be.”
Combating Isolation Following the loss of his wife, John sought to combat isolation. He joined Guild Care’s new members group and engaged in activities like singing for fun and ping pong. His involvement with the ping pong sessions improved his wellbeing and provided valuable social interaction.
Social return on investment The amount of social value created for each Creating Connections member was equivalent to an annual value of
£7,846
Creating Connections cost £115k during this 6-month period and created a total of
£685,419 in social value
£ We received public funding and the value created for their investment was over
– an SROI of £5.96 for every £1 spent.
£4.08 for every £1 invested
Social Return on Investment Report7, which looked at the social value created by our projects from 1st July to 31st December 2021.
Moving forward Over the next few years, our plans are: To support 8,000 people through our Creating Connections service
End social isolation for older people in Worthing
Reference 7 Guild Care. (2018). SROI Report. [online] Available at: https://www.guildcare.org/socialimpact-of-guild-care-community-services-report.
For further information please contact our Creating Connections team 01903 528635 creatingconnections@guildcare.org www.guildcare.org/creating-connections
All photography shows Guild Care service users, taken with permissions and in line with GDPR guidelines. All information in this document is correct as of December 2023. Guild Care is a registered charity, number 1044658.