Extra funding approved to help social connectedness across Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Council has approved an additional £250,000 of funding to help tackle loneliness and keep communities connected across the county.

The extra funding will build upon existing work already being carried out to improve social connections and community relations.

A range of community based social connection projects are currently being funded through Locality Health and Wellbeing Partnerships using money first approved during the Covid 19 pandemic.

This funding was due to end in September 2025, but the new £250,000 funding allocation will allow this work to continue for a further 18 months.

Over 250 activities and initiatives have been funded across Derbyshire since the funding was introduced, enabling thousands of people to make connections in their local community and helping to prevent loneliness and social isolation.

These include dementia memory cafes, chat groups, community board game sessions, arts and craft groups, young people’s mental health support, community gardens and more.

Certain groups in Derbyshire are facing higher levels of loneliness, these include:

• People in rural communities - particularly those who don’t have access to the internet or who lack digital skills
• Young people
• People living in lower income households in particular single parents.
• Men
• People living in rented properties, particularly those in unstable tenancies who may be required to move frequently
• People experiencing domestic abuse

Cabinet Member for Health and Communities Councillor Dawn Abbott said: “Loneliness can have a profound negative impact on health and wellbeing and can also lead to increased demand for health and social care services which is why it is so important to address.

“Local community and voluntary organisations in Derbyshire play a vital role in supporting their communities and we are pleased to be able to extend this funding to help them continue to tackle social isolation.

“We will also be developing our long-term approach to supporting social connectedness in Derbyshire to ensure this important agenda is supported beyond this current phase of investment.

“This will enable us to continue to prioritise keeping communities feeling connected for years to come.”

Visit www.derbyshire.gov.uk/getconnected for more advice and support around loneliness and connectedness.