One of our volunteers was telling me recently that although he lives surrounded by extended family and in a close neighbourhood, he still feels lonely. Family go to school and work, neighbours are at home but working. Friends are out playing golf and having lunches. And, as he feels alone, his mental health suffers.
He is not alone; several of our volunteers are motivated to join us at Bristol Charities to get out of the house, to be among others and be occupied, to feel useful and like they have moved out of a passive, static space and into a contributing and helping role. And we must be doing something right, because feedback from volunteers includes lines like, “I’m so happy to feel part of a team,” and “The Vassall Centre is our happy place. It’s a village, a community.”
So, imagine our delight when analyzing data from our recent survey about the impact of hiring out our spaces for community groups, the top impact identified by attendees was, “a feeling of being more connected with other people”. This was the top impact identified by physical activity groups, peer support groups and craft groups, across the board.
“I work from home alone, so the company is the best thing I enjoy,” was a telling comment. Loneliness is rife and it can affect us at any stage of our lives, often creeping up unexpectedly. And sometimes the spaces where we expect to find consoling comfort, at home, with a partner, do not or cannot offer the understanding or company we need.
So, Bristol Charities is delighted to offer a second home, or a place of belonging, that can sometimes serve a need in a way a home, family or workplace cannot. It may be a peer group of people recovering from cancer, or a women’s dance class, or a team of volunteers serving teas to young parents; company and connection can be found in the most unexpected of places.
If loneliness is something you’re experiencing, we’d encourage you to explore what’s happening in your local community. At the Vassall Community Hub in Oldbury Court, regular opportunities to connect include a Disabled People’s Drop-in (Mondays, 1-3pm), Frome Vale Youth Club (Mondays, 6-8.30pm), Women’s Yoga (Tuesdays, 10-11am), Connection Café (every other Tuesday, 5-6.30pm), Talk Club for Men (Wednesdays, 7.30-9.30pm), Soup and Social (Thursdays, 10:30-12pm) and Gospel Choir (Fridays, 12-1pm). You can find our full timetable of activities on the Vassall Community Hub website.
In Stockwood, we host a range of activities and classes at Haberfield House, one of our alms-houses, and have also worked with local partners to create a directory of activities taking place across the wider Stockwood community. Whether you’re interested in exercise, creativity, social groups or volunteering, there are opportunities to get involved, meet new people and feel more connected.
Sometimes the first step is simply turning up – and you might be surprised where it leads.
