As reported by the Windsford and Middlewich Guardian, Winsford-based charity Changing Lives Together has become the latest organisation to secure National Lottery funding, receiving £70,000 following a large rise in volunteer numbers during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
As a result of the funding, the charity will now have the capabilities to expand its intergenerational befriending service, Buddy & Befriending scheme, which looks to keep people of all ages connected during lockdown.
The scheme, which has been forced to adapt its services due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, matches local volunteers to people with similar interests to them.
Duncan Nicholson, head of funding for north west at The National Lottery Community Fund, stated: “Thanks to National Lottery players, we are able to fund thousands of projects working in many ways to help reduce loneliness and isolation in the UK. As we all adapt to profound changes during the Covid-19 pandemic, tackling stigma around loneliness and making it okay to ask for help are more important than ever.
“Loneliness is affecting people from all walks of life while we are physically apart in these difficult times. Groups such as Changing Lives Together are a powerful force for good – supporting people to connect, reducing feelings of isolation and helping communities come together in new and inspiring ways.”
As it stands, the project currently has 124 volunteers with the charity continuing to receive referrals from volunteers looking to join the project. This increase in interest has seen the waiting time for people to be matched up reduced from 65 days to two days.
The funding comes in the midst of Loneliness Awareness Week which runs from June 15-19 and aims to raise awareness of loneliness, break the stigma attached to it and encourage people to speak about the issue opening.
Furthermore,the £70,000 grant also follows on from new research undertaken by the Office of National Statistics which shows that over seven million people in the UK have admitted to having their wellbeing affected due to loneliness resulting from the ongoing COVID imposed lockdown.
Tracey Walford, project manager at Changing Lives Together, concluded: “Our volunteers have been amazing, and we owe the great success of the project to the work that they do every week keeping in touch with their befriendees. It has undoubtedly been one of the most successful projects run by our charity in recent years.
“Lots of our volunteers have felt that the current crisis has brought loneliness and isolation more to the forefront.”