Agenda item

7.1

The Committee received a presentation from South Yorkshire Housing Association (SYHA) which set out the work to date and next steps of the SYHA programme to reduce loneliness and social isolation in people aged 50+. Present for this item were Ruth Hawke and Vic Stirling from SYHA.

7.2

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions, to which responses were provided as follows:-

·         Vic Stirling reported that the Big Lottery Fund was funding 14 projects across the UK seeking to reduce loneliness and social isolation. This was the only project being led by a Housing Association, but that did not mean it was limited to those living in social housing. Although the project had four wards and five groups being targeted, Ms Stirling confirmed that anyone across the City could be involved.

·         Members noted that a lot of data was being collected on levels of isolation throughout the duration of individuals’ involvement with initiatives, and Sheffield Hallam University was acting as the project’s local evaluator. SYHA Officers undertook to share data and information about how effective the project had been over the course of the first three years and the learning so far.

·         Vic Stirling confirmed that the project was trying lots of approaches and initiatives, gathering learning from each project and seeing if it could be applied with other groups, or in other areas. Other organisations would then be able to use and build on that information to commission and create future programmes and services.

·         In response to a question about targeting people who weren’t already linked to an existing group or service, Ms Stirling advised that there were numerous ‘on-the-ground’ initiatives (including comedy nights, engaging people on the street, and speaking with people on buses) as well as work with existing organisations in order to build on what was already known and being done.

·         Ms Stirling acknowledged the danger of leaving a gap in the provision of services once funding had run out, and advised that as such the next three years were focussing on legacy, sustainability, and adding value to existing services for the long term.

·         Members noted that there was no single project which had been more effective than others, but there had been a number of successes which would enable people to become more community-minded rather than providing a service which would end once funding ran out.

·         SYHA officers gave a number of examples, including frontline staff who were already going into homes for services and repairs being trained to recognise signs of loneliness and/or social isolation; enabling people to set up their own community groups; and a counselling programme which began in an individual’s home and, over the course of a few weeks, helped encourage them to access services in the community. Ms Stirling also advised that intergenerational initiatives were also being increasingly explored.

·         In response to a query about the causes of loneliness and social isolation, Vic Stirling advised that there were a number of life factors involved with causes of loneliness and social isolation (i.e. bereavement, retirement, children leaving home etc.) but that, generally, loneliness was both increasing and being increasingly recognised.

7.3

SYHA were seeking Members’ feedback as to the next three years of the project. Members urged officers to promote the initiatives throughout the City and, in particular, in GP surgeries and waiting rooms. Members also encouraged intergenerational projects where possible and asked the Housing Association to report back in due course with their action plan for the City.

7.4

RESOLVED: That the Committee thanks those attending for their contribution to the meeting, notes the contents of the presentation and the responses to the questions, and invites the South Yorkshire Housing Association to report back at a future meeting and present their action plan for the City.