Loneliness Awareness Week is organised by the Marmalade Trust charity which aims to show that feeling lonely is normal, and to encourage people to both talk about that emotion but also make new connections.
Feelings of loneliness and isolation can be difficult to deal with even in normal circumstances, and potentially even more so during the lockdown that had to be brought in as the coronavirus took hold.
Having had to postpone all face-to-face activities, Wolves Foundation has adapted the delivery of its projects during the pandemic, but has done everything within its power to keep in touch with its partner organisations and participants.
This has included:
- The Wolves At Home initiative where club legends joined Wolves’ staff in telephoning elderly and vulnerable supporters who were isolated at home.
- Check in and Chat as the successful Head 4 Health project to improve men’s mental health was taken online ensuring participants still had someone to turn to.
- A Pen Pal scheme where young people who had previously engaged with the Foundation wrote letters to elderly participants of the Molineux Memories and Wolves Elders clubs.
- The S-X Factor, with Foundation Ambassador Producer S-X getting involved in a music competition to engage young people who would normally be attending the PL Kicks programme.
- Volunteering, with many Foundation staff members taking part in a City of Wolverhampton’s initiative, delivering shopping to elderly residents who were unable to leave their homes. The Foundation has also given over its Arena at Aldersley for use by the council in preparing food parcels to be sent out.
“As the club’s official charity, we pride ourselves on being extremely visible and active within the local community with face-to-face delivery from staff on a huge range of projects,” said head of the Foundation, Will Clowes.
“As a result of the lockdown caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, all of these activities came to a sudden stop, completely understandably.
“However, we were all very aware that among the thousands of people of all ages across the City who benefit from Foundation activities, there were many who might find the change from normal life, and potentially that feeling of loneliness, very difficult to cope with.
“We transferred a lot of our delivery online, particularly to some of our partner schools and with ‘Check in and Chat’ as part of the Head 4 Health project, as well as contacting fans directly via ‘Wolves At Home’ and the Pen Pal scheme.
“I am very proud of the way our staff have responded to this crisis, ensuring they are there and ready to help people who may need them, and hopefully it is proving a benefit to those who have been feeling lonely and isolated and cut off from the outside world.”
Click here to view all of the Foundation’s recent news stories or follow us on social media @WWFCFoundation.
