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Marmalade Connections
Supporting project members to make meaningful new connections
What is the Marmalade Connections project?
Marmalade Connections supports those in our community who are the most socially isolated, and who experience chronic loneliness (feeling lonely all or most of the time).
It's a time-limited, one-to-one project covering most of the South West. Based on the enabling/empowering social prescribing model, trained volunteers make weekly calls to project members for up to 15 weeks, focusing on their specific needs and interests.
Marmalade Connections is not a 'befriending call project'.​ These conversations lead to volunteers signposting the project members to local social activities and community support, to improve their social connections long term. ​
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Please read the role description here and express your interest by completing an application.
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Click here to refer yourself or someone you know to join the project making new connections.
Eligibility
Marmalade Connections is open to referrals for:
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people ​in ​Bristol, Gloucestershire, South Glos, Wiltshire, Somerset, North Somerset, and Bath & NES.
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people who live alone, in their own or a rented home
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people who are not currently homeless or in temporary accommodation
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people who feel lonely all or most of the time
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people who would like to make new social connections
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people who are keen to get out and about, or can access online activities independently.
Please see the referral form above for more details.
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Meet Helen, 87
“The loneliness and the isolation... it makes me feel very low,” says Helen of life since her husband died. “Some days I don’t see a soul.” Helen was caught in a cycle of feeling disconnected, “It’s really hard to make new friends when you’re feeling down. It makes you want to stay in.”
Thanks to the Marmalade Connections project, Helen was matched with a friendly, trained volunteer to help her make new connections and find social activity in their local community. “My lovely volunteer never misses a call. We chat away very easily, about all sorts of things, including cats.”
“She has asked me all about things I like to do or used to enjoy doing. It's been really helpful to talk about ideas and think about what might be possible. She’s encouraged me to get back to my knitting club and has also found me another activity. I’ve met a few new people, I feel more positive and am finding it easier to make new friends and talk to people.”
“The project has been important to me because it has brought me together with people again. My hopes for the future? I just want to be friends with people!”
Our approach
We recognise that loneliness is a subjective experience, and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach that will prevent everyone from feeling lonely. By matching a trained volunteer with each project member, we can ensure that each individual receives a tailored response that connects them with the kinds of services and support they think would help them.
By building a trusting relationship through regular phone contact, volunteers offer help and support to build the project member's confidence, form new social links and access services needed. Signposting to new activities or ways of making social connections inside or outside the home, is a key part of the volunteer role.
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Our goal
Ultimately the project aims to enable our project members to step out of loneliness and make meaningful, long-lasting connections that bring them joy far beyond the programme. By the end of the project, we hope to see our project members engaging with a new group, activity, or opportunity in their community or online; rekindling old hobbies, becoming more active or learning new skills.​
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How to get involved all year round...
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From sponsored runs to cake sales, fundraising is a brilliant way to support our charity.
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