Loneliness Week 2024
Loneliness Awareness Week is a campaign hosted by the Marmalade Trust, the UK’s leading loneliness charity. The campaign is dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness and creating supportive communities by having open, honest conversations. It’s 10-16 June this year and the theme is Random Acts of Connection. This theme encourages everyone to increase those simple, everyday moments of connection which help us feel happier, less lonely, and increase our sense of belonging.
Join one of our free events
| What | Where | When | Who |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee Morning | Dewsbury Moor Childrens Centre. Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury, WF13 3NT | Monday 10th of June 9:00 to 10:30 | Amanda Hardie |
| Loneliness Awareness Walk | Cleckheaton Memorial Park Greenside, Cleckheaton. BD19 5AP | Thursday 13th of June 13:00 to 15:00 | Amanda Hardie Yusuf Pandor |
| Loneliness Awareness Stall | Huddersfield Bus Station Upperhead Row, Huddersfield HD1 2JN | Thursday 13th of June 10:00 to 15:00 | Tracy Heaney |
| Loneliness Awareness Stall | Holmfirth Co-op Market St, Holmfirth, Huddersfield HD9 7AX | Wednesday 12th of June 9:30 to 12:30 | Hannah King Claire Baldwin |
| Loneliness Awareness Stall | Drop By 14 Sycamore Ct, Longwood, Huddersfield HD3 4SS | Tuesday 11th of June 9:30 to 12:30 | Joy Cummings-Douglas Claire Baldwin |
Micro Connections
Micro connections, those brief, seemingly insignificant interactions we have with others in our daily lives, hold a surprising amount of power. They can be as simple as a smile exchanged with a stranger, a quick chat with a neighbour, or a friendly greeting to a shopkeeper. These small moments of connection can have a profound impact on our sense of belonging and well-being. They remind us that we are part of a larger community and can help to alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Buddy Benches
Buddy Benches were introduced around Huddersfield as part of the Place Partnerships Mental health funding. They are a special type of bench placed in within communities, with a simple idea – if you feel lonely, you can go to the bench as a signal that you need someone to talk to.
These benches aim to make communities friendlier and more inclusive. They serve a special purpose of promoting inclusion and friendship. Apart from just making new buddies, these benches also help combat loneliness and boost social skills among everyone in the community. In essence, as the plaque on each bench suggests: We sit, we chat and ask each other questions, we leave as friends, with all good intentions.
To find a bench local to you, use the interactive map below or visit our What’s On | Kirklees Community Plus to come and talk to one of our Community Connectors.
“The loneliness you feel is actually an opportunity to reconnect with others and yourself.”