Health / Loneliness Awareness Week
Reducing the stigma surrounding loneliness
Loneliness is a common feeling and should be without stigma or shame – this is Bristol-based charity Marmalade Trust’s message for the UK’s third Loneliness Awareness Week.
To mark the end of the week, Bristol Music Trust and Marmalade Trust came together to host Be Together Bristol at Colston Hall on Friday, June 21.
The Marmalade Trust is committed to raising awareness of loneliness and believe that reducing the stigma surrounding it is a fundamental starting point.
is needed now More than ever
Set up in 2013, they are the largest charity in the UK to address loneliness among all age groups.
Be Together Bristol brought all ages of people together to break the stigma surrounding loneliness
The Be Together Bristol event at Colston hall hosted a day of events, all raising awareness for loneliness.
A play called A Lonely Monologue was performed by older people about their own experiences with loneliness and the Laugh out Loud laughter yoga workshop encouraged the audience to express their feelings through laughter. Melody Makers Choir, a a baby-friendly choir for mothers feeling isolated after giving birth, performed as well.
Melody Makers choir encouraged the audience to join them in singing a range of popular songs
Marmalade Trust launched the first Loneliness Awareness Week in 2017 to raise awareness of loneliness and creating a society where it is spoken about openly.
“People rarely talk about loneliness, despite this being a common feeling. When people do talk about it, they often refer to loneliness in a negative way – saying it is something that is ‘suffered from’ or ‘I admit it, I’m lonely’,” says Marmalade Trust founder Amy Perrin.
“We believe loneliness should not be seen as a negative, shameful or hopeless thing and educate people to see loneliness as a blank canvas on which they can fill their lives with new friends and experiences.”
A lonely Monologue, a play delivered by older people dealing with loneliness
Amy added: “We’re encouraging people to take our pledge and to hold an event or get together. We want people to understand it’s ok to say ‘I’ve been lonely’ and spread the word with #letstalkloneliness.”
For more information or to donate to Marmalade Trust at www.marmaladetrust.org
Read More: ‘Why it’s time to open up about loneliness’
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