Reaching out to tackle loneliness and isolation

A week-long campaign that aims to tackle loneliness at Christmas for people with learning difficulties will get under way on Tuesday.

Reach Learning Disability, the charity behind the Not Lonely This Christmas initiative, wants to raise awareness and £25,000.

The money would be used to pay for activities and courses to help people with learning disabilities.

The project is part of the Big Give Christmas Challenge — a match-funding campaign where every online donation made during the week will be doubled.

Reach, which has bases in Newark, Southwell and Mansfield, as well as a horticultural social enterprise in Southwell, the Flower Pod, runs more than 40 courses and activities each week to help users build friendships and take part in community life.

Fundraising director Julia Sandhu said the charity challenged negative assumptions about living with a learning disability and created opportunities for members of the community to work alongside each other.

“The less social interaction you have the harder it can be to go out into the world, so people become trapped in a cycle of loneliness,” she said.

“This can be really damaging to physical and emotional wellbeing. It is very important that people with learning disabilities get the right support so they can feel more confident about mixing with others and being out and about.

“We offer all kings of things to help people feel they can have a fulfilling life that includes friendship, fun new challenges and an active role in their community.”

One person who has been helped by Reach is Anita.

On Mondays and Tuesdays she is at Flower Pod and on Wednesdays she attends a cook and eat course at Reach Newark.

On Fridays she attends the Newark Women’s Group, which gives her the chance to try different community facilities and practise skills with the support of volunteers.

She said she was very shy when she first went to Reach.

'I am happier now than in the past'

“The volunteers helped me to get out of my shell,” she said.

“When I did a taster session the volunteers gave me a big welcome.”

Another user to benefit from the charity’s work is Tom, who has been attending Reach for two years.

Before going to the charity he found using public transport on his own difficult, but with support from staff he has increased his confidence and developed skills to help his everyday life.

He attends sessions at Reach Southwell and the Flower Pod and recently went on a Reach weekend holiday supported by staff and volunteers.

He said he enjoyed the opportunity to be with other people.

“I am happier now than in the past,” he said. “Being part of a group is more fun.”

During the Christmas challenge week Reach will hold open-house events to showcase its activities.

Reach Newark, which meets in the Methodist Church Hall, Barnbygate, will host a dance showcase on Tuesday to launch the campaign as well as a Christmas fair on December 2 and a singing showcase on December 4.

Reach Southwell, based at Prebend Passage, Southwell, will have a media fun showcase and campaign launch on Tuesday with singing and pottery showcases on Wednesday.

It will be at the late-night shopping event in the town a week today and there will be a women’s group presentation on December 4.

Donations to the appeal can be made from noon on Tuesday until noon on December 5 at https://secure.thebiggive.org.uk/project/notlonely