Combating Isolation and Loneliness by Rosa Debebe

Combating Isolation and Loneliness Rosa Debebe

Contents 0 3

Introduction

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Conducting research on loneliness

09

Case studies

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For ms o f l on el i ne ss and social isolation

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Rec o mmen dat i ons for local councils

Throughout and after the C ov i d - 1 9 l o c k d ow n s , m a ny o f C a m d e n’s r e s i d e n t s s t r u g g l e d with isolation and loneliness, and more than a third of adults f e e l l o n e l i e r n ow t h a n t h e y d i d during the pandemic.

I a m ve r y p a s s i o n a t e a b o u t researching this issue as I was a v i c t i m my s e l f o f t h i s i n t h e p a s t .

Completing research around central and southern Camden, I h ave g a t h e r e d s o m e i n s i g h t f u l i n f o r m a t i o n t h a t e ve n I w a s n’t aw a r e o f p r e v i o u s ly. I a m h o p i n g t h i s k n ow l e d g e f r o m l o c a l s w i l l contribute to helping those who are isolated.

My m e t h o d o f r e s e a r c h w a s m a i n ly f a c e - t o - f a c e t h r o u g h interviews, but some preferred t o e n g a g e ove r t h e p h o n e o r via emails or messaging.

T h e m o s t e n j oy a b l e p a r t o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n s I ’ve h a d h a s been finding solutions, and engaging with residents about w h a t t h e c o u n c i l c a n o f f e r.

E ve n t h e s i m p l e s t g a t h e r i n g can be the ice breaker that brings n e i g h b o u r s t o g e t h e r t o e mb r a c e o n e a n o t h e r a s a c o m m u n i t y.

The Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony In Ethiopia, where I ’m f r o m , i s o l a t i o n i s n o t s o m e t h i n g we really wor r y ab o u t .

Back ho me i n E a s t A fric a we n e ve r c l o s e a d o o r, e ve r yo n e i s w e l c o m e without arrangement.

I think the key to preventing isolation i s h av i n g a s u p p o r t ive neighbourhood.

One element of our culture that helps bring the community together is the traditional coffee c e r e m o n y. T h i s i s a s o c i a l occasion that takes around t wo h o u r s , w h e r e t h e neighbourhood gathers t o c o nv e r s e a n d b o n d ove r coffee.

We h av e a n o l d s ay i n g that “if something h a p p e n s t o yo u a t h o m e i t i s yo u r n e i g h b o u r w h o w i l l r e a c h yo u f i r s t ” s o w e n e e d t o m a k e s u r e we a r e s u r r o u n d e d by g o o d people.

Fr o m my r e s e a r c h a c r o s s Camden I can confirm it is true - as a lot of residents stated that it is at home where they feel the most isolated a n d t h e y w o u l d l ove t o h av e a b e t t e r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h t h o s e l iv i n g a r o u n d them. If we can bring people together into good neighbourhoods, t h e y w i l l b e l e s s l i k e ly to feel isolated.

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The cere mony, a lways held in traditional settings, e i t h e r i n a n e i g h b o u r ’s home or a communal coffee spot, is typically p e r f o r m e d by w o m e n h owe ve r m e n a l s o j o i n and become part of the c o nve r s a t i o n .

In this neighbourhood isolation and loneliness is rare. Such gatherings are u s e f u l t o h e l p e v e r yo n e understand what is going on locally and also discuss a ny i s s u e s i n a p o s i t i ve m a n n e r.

“

If something happens at home, your neighbours are the ones who will reach you faster than your family and friends.

- Quote from East Africa

”

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When I feel lonely....

I e n j oy g o i n g t o G r a n a r y S q u a r e b e c a u s e I l ove t o s e e t h e s u n r i s e and sunset and meet different people from all backgrounds....

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I a l s o l ove g o i n g t o t h e g y m . . . I d o n’t a lw ay s n e e d s o m e o n e t o t a l k t o, b u t b e i n g a r o u n d p e o p l e m a k e s me feel connected.

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C o n d u c t i n g Re s e a r c h o n Isolation and Loneliness

A s t h i s i s a ve r y s e n s i t ive t o p i c , s o m e o f my i n t e r v i e we e s we r e c o m f o r t a b l e o p e n i n g u p, a n d others found the topic difficult to talk about.

This was one of the challenging aspects.

I a lw ay s m a d e s u r e t o c h o o s e q u i e t a n d p r iv a t e spaces to conduct discussions and offer i n t e r v i e we e s a d r i n k o r t r y t o m a k e t h e m c o m f o r t a b l e . M o r e ove r, I t r i e d t o b e p o s i t ive a n d n o n - j u d g e m e n t a l , w i t h a f r i e n d ly a t t i t u d e .

Another challenge is finding the right people.

E v e n t h o u g h I f o u n d r e s i d e n t s t o i n t e r v i e w, community research is often unreliable. There was a lot of cancelling, rescheduling or asking a b o u t i n c e n t ive s e t c .

Another issue was the difficulty of finding a s u i t a b l e p l a c e l i k e t h e l i b r a r y, o p e n s p a c e s l i k e parks and community spaces to interview peop l e . Howe ve r, I m a n a g e d t o i n t e r v i e w s o m e residents inside the estate and public places.

I found it was impor tant to go to the people rather than expecting them to come to me.

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Nini I m e t N i n i a t a l o c a l E s t a t e Ac t i o n D ay. S h e w a s s o e xc i t e d t o a c t u a l ly m e e t c o u n c i l e n g a g e m e n t s t a f f i n person on her estate.

N i n i i s E a s t A f r i c a n b u t s h e h a s l ive d i n S o u t h - C e n t r a l C a m d e n f o r m o r e t h a n t we n t y ye a r s , h av i n g t r ave l l e d t o t h e U K a s a r e f u g e e i n h e r e a r ly 2 0 s . S h e i s a m o t h e r o f t wo a n d w o r k s a p a r t - t i m e j ob a s we l l .

She has struggled with feelings of loneliness for a long t i m e , s o m e t h i n g t h a t b e g a n w h e n h e r c h i l d r e n we r e q u i t e young. She stru g gl ed with th e l a n g u a ge b a r r ie r a n d t r y i n g t o c o n n e c t w i t h a c u l t u r e ve r y d i f f e r e n t t o t h e o n e s h e g r e w u p i n . A s a r e s u l t s h e d e s c r i b e d n o t h av i n g t h e t o o l s t o e f f e c t iv e ly c o m m u n i c a t e w i t h h e r c h i l d r e n’s t e a c h e r s , other parents, and medical professionals amongst others.

S h e s ay s t h a t s h e c a n u n d e r s t a n d E n g l i s h a n d c a n n ow c o m m u n i c a t e we l l b u t s t i l l f e e l s s h e c a n n o t ‘ e n g a g e ’ p r o p e r ly. S h e s a i d t h a t s h e h a s a lw ay s t r i e d t o b e f r i e n d ly a n d g r e e t a f e w n e i g h b o u r s b u t s t i l l f e l t l o n e ly a n d isolated, finding it difficult to make meaningful friendships or find someone to talk to when she needed help or information. As a result, her loneliness star ted to t u r n i n t o s a d n e s s , a s s h e f e l t e ve r yo n e w a s t u r n i n g t h e i r b a c k o n h e r.

T h i s h a s e v e n a f f e c t e d h e r U K- b o r n c h i l d r e n a s s h e f e e l s like her disconnection from the community impact them.

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She struggled to engage with the teachers and other p a r e n t s h av i n g m i s s e d i n f o r m a t i o n f r o m t h e s c h o o l a b o u t l i k e i n s e t d ay s o r e ve n t s . S h e o f t e n e n d e d u p m a k i n g i n n o c e n t m i s t a k e s , f a i l i n g t o a t t e n d m a ny t h i n g s a t t h e s c h o o l d u e t o a l a c k o f u n d e r s t a n d i n g . S h e e ve n m i s s e d t h e d e a d l i n e t o a pp ly f o r s e c o n d a r y s c h o o l .

As a result, herself and her children are often despondent.

S h e s a i d t h a t t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n b a r r i e r o f t e n l e ave s h e r f e e l i n g c o n f u s e d a n d l o s t . S h e d o e s n’t u n d e r s t a n d w h a t t h e school procedures are.

N i n i wo u l d l ov e f o r t h e l o c a l C o u n c i l t o d o m o r e e ve n t s w i t h h e r c o m m u n i t y t o h e l p e ve r yo n e f e e l s u pp o r t e d a n d e mb r a c e d .

T h e s c h o o l a n d C o u n c i l n e e d t o s t e p u p a n d p r o a c t ive ly d e ve l o p n e w o pp o r t u n i t i e s f o r t e n a n t s t o g e t t o k n ow e a c h other through community coffee mornings or afternoon t e a s . E a c h a n d e ve r y i n d iv i d u a l c a n l e a r n f r o m e a c h o t h e r.

S h e t o l d m e t h a t s h e b e l i e ve s a l o t o f p a r e n t s , p a r t i c u l a r ly o f d i f f e r e n t b a c k g r o u n d s , a r e f e e l i n g t h e s a m e , a n d f o r w o r k i n g p a r e n t s h av i n g a c c e s s t o c l e a r i n f o r m a t i o n i s k e y t o b a l a n c i n g t h e i r b u s y l ive s . .

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“

No matter how long you live in social or private housing you can always feel like you are a stranger.

”

- Nini, Camden resident.

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“

Don’t just sit and wait for someone to rescue you from loneliness. Start from yourself, be approachable and say hello to your neighbours.

- Clare, Camden resident.

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”

Clare C l a r e l iv e s n e a r K i n g s C r o s s , s h e i s a g o o d n e i g h b o u r o f m i n e . S h e i s p a r t o f t h e Te n a n t Re s i d e n t s A s s o c i a t i o n based around the Kings Cross area.

A s s h e h a s l iv e d a r o u n d t h e a r e a f o r m o r e t h a n t h i r t y ye a r s , s h e h a s a h u g e a m o u n t o f k n ow l e d g e a b o u t t h e a r e a a n d t h e t h e l o c a l C o u n c i l . S h e i s ve r y p o p u l a r i n t h e c o m m u n i t y and has amazing engagement skills with her neighbours.

She is a single mum to an autistic child and is also wo r k i n g f u l l t i m e . O n t o p o f a l l t h i s s h e i s ve r y o u t g o i n g , a lw ay s we l c o m i n g t h e n e w r e s i d e n t s n o m a t t e r w h e r e t h e y come from.

W h a t I l i k e a b o u t C l a r e i s t h a t w h e n e ve r s h e g e t s a c h a n c e , s h e a pp r o a c h e s a n d i n t r o d u c e s h e r s e l f. S h e a lw ay s h a s a p o s i t iv e a t t i t u d e t ow a r d s n e w n e i g h b o u r s , s o m e t h i n g yo u d o n’t a lw ay s s e e i n L o n d o n . S h e a lw ay s g r e e t s p e o p l e w a r m ly w i t h a f r i e n d ly a t t i t u d e .

S h e t o l d m e t h a t w h e n s h e f i r s t m ove d t o t h i s a r e a , s h e found it ver y difficult to mix and make friends, and felt a sense of loneliness despite being in the middle of a busy c i t y.

To c o mb a t t h i s s h e s t a r t e d g e t t i n g i nvo lve d w i t h t h e l o c a l c o m m u n i t y. S h e m a d e a c o n s c i o u s d e c i s i o n t o a pp r o a c h n e w n e i g h b o u r s , we l c o m e t h e m a n d h e l p t h e m s e t t l e i n t h e a r e a .

S h e i s a g o o d l i s t e n e r a n d t r i e s t o h e l p a n d s u pp o r t a ny n e w r e s i d e n t s w i t h yo u n g f a m i l i e s , s t u d e n t s , m i g r a n t s a n d e l d e r ly p e o p l e w h o r e c e n t ly m ove d i n .

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Philip P h i l i p l iv e s n e a r m e , a n d a lw ay s e n c o u r a g e s m e a b o u t t h e w o r k I a m d o i n g w i t h C a m d e n C o u n c i l . He h a s wo r k e d f o r C a m d e n i n v a r i o u s r o l e s a f e w t i m e s a n d i s a lw ay s h a pp y t o r e s p o n d t o a ny s u r ve y, r e s e a r c h o r q u e s t i o n s . T h e r e f o r e , I nominated him to be one of the respondents and arranged i n t e r v i e w s w i t h h i m a s s o o n a s I h a d my q u e s t i o n n a i r e s r e a dy.

He turned up at th e l ib ra r y a few m inut e s l at e, but t h e i n t e r v i e w we n t r e a l ly we l l . He e x p l a i n e d h ow h e c a n struggle with loneliness as a single dad, feeling that there are few places he can go to fit in and meet people.

H e a l s o s t r u g g l e d w i t h h i s h o u s i n g s i t u a t i o n , o n ly h av i n g o n e b e d r o o m w h i c h i s n’t g o o d f o r h i s c h i l d . He s a i d h i s h o u s i n g m e a n s h e i s n o t c o m f o r t a b l e i nv i t i n g f a m i ly a n d f r i e n d s ov e r t o c e l e b r a t e a n d f e l t p a r t i c u l a r ly l o c k e d i n d u r i n g t h e p a n d e m i c . He s a i d h e wo u l d l ove t h e c o u n c i l t o o r g a n i s e e v e n t s a n d m o t iv a t e r e s i d e n t s t o m i x w i t h e a c h o t h e r s a s h e f e e l s c u r r e n t ly d ay s h e d o e s n’t e ve n k n ow h i s closest neighbours.

“

My housing situation is making me feel isolated....

- Philip, Camden resident.

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”

- Pa r e n t s w i t h s m a l l c h i l d r e n .

- Re f u g e e s a n d o r m i g r a n t s w i t h d i f f e r e n t backgrounds, including Asian, African and C a r i bb e a n .

- E l d e r ly p a r e n t s w h o s e c h i l d r e n m ove d aw ay b e c a u s e t h e y c a n n o t a f f o r d a h o m e n e a r by.

- S t u d e n t s m ov i n g t o C a m d e n f o r e d u c a t i o n purposes.

- Re s i d e n t s w h o h ave l ow i n c o m e w h o c a n’t afford to socialise.

- O ve r c r ow d e d r e s i d e n t s .

- Ho m e b o u n d o r h o u s e b o u n d r e s i d e n t , m e a n i n g t h o s e u n a b l e t o l e ave t h e i r h o m e w i t h o u t d i f f i c u l t y.

The types of isolation I heard about f r o m C a m d e n r e s i d e n t s we r e : - Social isolation.

- Isolation due to being homebound.

- State of housing isolation.

- Isolation from being a new resident.

Groups Struggling with Isolation

Groups struggled with isolation that I e n c o u n t e r e d i n my r e s e a r c h we r e : -

- Financial isolation.

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Social isolation One of the most common forms of loneliness or isolation I came across was social isolation, where some people who w o u l d l ov e t o m e e t a n d d i s c u s s a n d s h a r e i d e a s f e e l t h a t t h i s i s m i s s i n g f r o m t h e i r l ive s . M a ny r e s i d e n t s f e e l t h a t t h e y d o n o t h ave s o m e o n e t o t a l k t o a m o n g s t t h e i r f e l l ow Camden residents, and find it difficult to meet and make f r i e n d s . A s m a ny r e s i d e n t s a r e c o m i n g f r o m a l l ove r t h e wo rld, they are s o m etim es n o t co m for t abl e t a lk i n g to t h e i r n e i g h b o u r s , s o t h e C o u n c i l n e e d s t o b e t h e i c e b r e a k e r.

Isolation due to being homebound I s o l a t i o n c a u s e d by t h e s t a t e o f t h e h o u s i n g n o t b e i n g s u i t a b l e t o t e n a n t s d i s a b i l i t i e s o r m ob i l i t y i s s u e s , m e a n i n g t h a t t h e y c a n’t l e ave t h e p r e m i s e s i n d e p e n d e n t ly w i t h e a s e .

After the pandemic, some people still feel like they are i s o l a t e d a n d f i n d i t d i f f i c u l t t o l e ave h o m e , e s p e c i a l ly e l d e r ly p e o p l e , w h o a r e v u l n e r a b l e w i t h h e a l t h c o n d i t i o n s .

State of housing isolation I spoke to residents who felt like their housing situation, s u c h a s b e i n g ve r y ove r c r ow d e d , p r e ve n t e d t h e m f r o m i n v i t i n g f r i e n d s ove r t o s o c i a l i s e . O t h e r s f e l t l i k e t h e y we r e e mb a r r a s s e d by t h e c o n d i t i o n o f t h e i r h o u s i n g which caused similar issues.

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Isolation from being a new resident M a ny r e s i d e n t s i n C a m d e n a r e n e w t o t h e b o r o u g h , a n d m a ny a r e e v e n n e w t o t h e c o u n t r y. B e i n g n e w t o a c u l t u r e c a n o f t e n l e ave yo u f e e l i n g u n s u r e o f h ow t o m a k e f r i e n d s o r a pp r o a c h p e o p l e i n t h e ‘ p r o p e r ’ w ay. L a n g u a g e b a r r i e r s and religious or culture clashes can make fitting in to a new community a big challenge.

Financial isolation T h e r e a r e a l s o l o c a l r e s i d e n t s w h o, d u e t o t h e i r f i n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n , a r e u n a b l e t o t r ave l t o e ve n t s o r t o s e e f r i e n d s a n d f a m i ly a s r e g u l a r ly a s t h e y wo u l d l i k e .

S o c i a l i s i n g i s b e c o m i n g i n c r e a s i n g ly e x p e n s ive , b u t i t i s p o s s i b l e t o o r g a n i s e c h e a p o r e ve n f r e e e ve n t s t h a t a r e m e a n i n g f u l t o r e s i d e n t s i f n e a r w h e r e t h e y l ive .

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What is the Council a l r e a dy d o i n g we l l ?

After the pandemic, a lot of people still felt l i k e t h e y we r e i s o l a t e d a n d f o u n d i t d i f f i c u l t t o m e e t , e s p e c i a l ly e l d e r ly p e o p l e , w h o a r e v u l nerable with health conditions.

Howe ve r, t h e C o u n c i l d i d s u c h a n a m a z i n g j ob, p a r t i c u l a r ly p a r t i c i p a t i o n a n d e n g a g e m e n t teams.

E s t a t e Ac t i o n D ay s ( E A D s) On EADs the Council officers gather under one roof near to one of the estates, then each depar tment allocates one or more officers, and the par ticipation team organises different a c t iv i t i e s i n c l u d i n g f o o d a n d d r i n k .

The residents get a chance to talk and d i s c u s s a ny i s s u e s o r c o n c e r n s t h e y h ave w i t h t h e n e i g h b o u r h o o d a n d a l s o u s e t h e e ve n t a s a n i m p o r t a n t i c e - b r e a k e r t o g e t t o k n ow o n e a n o t h e r b e t t e r. T h i s h a s h a d a b i g i m p a c t o n easing loneliness and isolation in Camden.

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A n E s t a t e Ac t i o n D ay I a t t e n d e d .

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How the Council can continue to help The Council needs to work hard towards to empower residents: - First of all the Council needs to improve the general services, including its communications with residents, doing this with respect and patience. Following up on issues and keeping residents in the loop.

- Second would be to engage with the residents just to check up on them, but most useful would be to organise more events like Estate Action Days once or twice a year and include residents in decision making.

- Third would be opening up the Council so residents feel more involved. The residents desperately would love to feel like they are counted or heard as this will break the chain of despondency. The citizen scientist-in-residence programme I am on currently is a great example of this.

In 2023 and 2024 the council engaged intensively with residents. On these occasions it was useful for residents to not only discuss things with the council officers but also use these opportunities to open up and socialise with their neighbours.

I believe that by engaging more with residents, the council can make a big difference by identifying and reacting to the causes of isolation and loneliness, and co-creating solutions alongside those in the community.

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I believe the Council needs to continue empowering residents and developing a healthy relationship with communities.

For example, don’t knock on doors only when something happens, visit to ask how people are on random days.

And when any tragedy happens, see if there are ways to support the family, to help build empathy across the borough.

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CAMDEN COUNCIL CITIZEN SCIENTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE 2023-2024 Following many successful collaborations, including the Good Life Euston and Euston Young Voices projects, Camden Council have teamed up with the Institute for Global prosperity at University College London to deliver an innovative ‘Citizen Science-in-Residence’ programme for the year 2023-2024.

This zine is one of the outputs from this programme.

Seven local residents were employed by Camden Council to conduct research informed by their own lived experience for the benefit of developing new council policy ideas and initiatives. As part of their residency at the council, the cohort completed a bespoke 12-month training programme with the UCL Citizen Science Academy.

Five of the citizen scientists-in-residence were connected with the development of the council’s new Community Wealth Fund Initiative and the remaining two conducted research to help inform the Tenant Engagement Programme. Through practical training and supported fieldwork using qualitative research methods, the work done by the citizen scientists-in-residence is part of a wider goal to promote citizen-led policy making and connect residents with local government.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank Joseph Cook and the Camden participation teams for the support and giving me this chance also for the respondents and the Bourne Estate, Holborn library St Pancras library and finally the staffs around Granary Square.

The UCL Citizen Science Academy would also like to thank all those at Camden Council that provided support for this project, including those in the Participation and Community Wealth Fund teams. Additionally we are grateful for the input from a variety of local organisations who have hosted us throughout the year, including Luminary Bakery, Google, Training Link and Somers Town Community Association.

CONTACT citizenscienceacademy@ucl.ac.uk @glo_pro @glo__pro

For more zines by our citizen scientists, please visit www.prosperity-global.org/citizen-science-academy