Bristol-based charity Marmalade Trust launch Loneliness Awareness Week with real stories, open discussion, and new research.

Hosted by Marmalade Trust with supporters Tobacco Factory and Mark’s Bakery, this event will kick-off a week of conversation and connection across the world, including a series of events here in our Tent & Terrace outdoor space.

Hear real stories from people who have experienced loneliness, listen to experts and join in open discussion, and discover the findings of brand-new research with Ipsos on the stigmas surrounding loneliness.

We will be joined by a range of speakers & hosts, including:

Daisy Morris (She / Her), Founder of The Selfhood and Author of Community Is Your Currency

Sam Carr, a Senior Lecturer at University of Bath and the author of All the Lonely People

Lara Rodwell Founder of @_thelonelyclub on Instagram where she shares her personal experiences of loneliness

More speakers and hosts TBA soon

Hosted in the tent and terrace area at Tobacco Factory, the event will bring people together over drinks and nibbles to connect, including:

• An interactive Q&A challenging the stigmas that surround loneliness
• The launch of Marmalade Trusts latest research into loneliness stigma with Ipsos
• Hear personal stories and expert opinions on how loneliness and lack of connection is impacting individuals and communities

Tickets cost £5 and all money is donated to Marmalade Trust and goes directly towards supporting people who are socially isolated and experiencing loneliness.

_____________________________________________________________________

Interested in getting involved or have a story to tell? Contact Campaign Manager hannahbeatrice@marmaladetrust.org

Loneliness Awareness Week

Loneliness Awareness Week is the only week in the world dedicated to raising awareness of loneliness and inspiring people to make meaningful new connections along the way.

This year will be the ninth Loneliness Awareness Week. To date the campaign has achieved:

• 6,000 connection-building activities.
• 600 million reached through the campaign.
• 87% started a conversation with someone new about loneliness.
• Conversations happening about loneliness every 2 seconds throughout the week.

This year Loneliness Awareness Week will focus on reducing the stigma surrounding loneliness. Loneliness is a feeling most of us will experience – but stigma keeps us silent.

Stigma stops us from talking about it together and facing it together. That’s why this year, we’re Meeting Loneliness Together.

Together we can talk about loneliness, understand it, challenge stigma, and create space for honest conversation… starting here!

Why does it matter?

Disconnected communities could be costing the UK economy £32 billion every year. Mounting evidence has also found that loneliness can be as bad for our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

The Bristol One City Plan aims to make Bristol a city of no social isolation and with loneliness no longer being a systemic challenge in the city by 2046.

Join us for Meeting Loneliness Together and see how we can make Bristol more connected.