One of the things which is immediately apparent when out and about in Brentwood and Ongar is the number of voluntary groups and charities meeting and working for other people in the constituency.
You only have to look at the Community Section of this paper, or the “Clubs and Societies” lists in most of the parish magazines or local newsletters like The Ongar News and the Abridge Link, to see how many things there are to do and learn locally.
I like to think all of these groups and clubs and societies taking place mean there is always somewhere for someone to go and have fun and makes friends, whether they are new to the area, just retired, or just feeling rather lonely.
For too many people, loneliness is the sad reality of modern life. Jo Cox recognised the scale of loneliness across the country and dedicated herself to helping those affected, and this Government is committed to building on her legacy by accepting a series of recommendations made by the Jo Cox Commission on Loneliness.
To that end, the Prime Minister has appointed Tracey Crouch MP as the dedicated Minister for Loneliness in order to combat the scourge of social isolation, which affects up to nine million people in the United Kingdom, and bring an end to the acceptance of loneliness for good.
I could give you bullet points and lots of political-speak about developing strategy and establishing appropriate indicators of loneliness and driving action. But, given around 200,000 older paper have not had a conversation with a friend or relative in more than a month, and up to 85 per cent of young disabled adults report feeling lonely, it seems better to keep the message simple:
We need to bring an end to the acceptance of loneliness for good.
The Gazette has a community section with details of local clubs and societies, and our local councils are very good at supporting these organisations too. If you run a club, society or organisation which would welcome new members, or if you are feeling lonely and need to get out and meet new people, do reach out and talk.