Most of us will experience loneliness during our lives, but for 15,589 people in North Hertfordshire and Stevenage, severe isolation is a fact of day-to-day life. impacts mental and physical health as severely as smoking or obesity, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). National statistics echo the gravity of the issue: 28% of UK adults report feeling lonely "often" or "always", with similar trends seen globally. This is why we’re taking action.
Our vision: Compassion and Connection
At the heart of our Community Engagement Programme are two transformative initiatives:
Compassionate Neighbours
A volunteer-based service matching isolated individuals with friendly companions who provide weekly visits, bringing much-needed connection and support.
Wellbeing Hubs
Vibrant social spaces where individuals gather for exercise sessions, engaging activities, healthcare talks, and simple yet meaningful companionship.
Why expand now?
96% of participants reported positive changes in their lives, feeling on average 20% less lonely and more connected to their communities. But the demand for these services far outweighs our current capacity, with long waiting lists for both matches and hub spaces.
Expanding our Compassionate Neighbours service is essential, particularly in conjunction with our recently launched Frailty Service. Initiated last January, the Frailty Service provides comprehensive care and support that improves quality of life and reduces unnecessary hospital admissions by identifying patients early, expanding our community services and opening additional beds on our Inpatient Unit.
Compassionate Neighbours complements these efforts by offering social and emotional support to individuals experiencing loneliness or isolation, which often accompanies frailty. By expanding this service, we can reach more individuals, continue to reduce hospital admissions and enhance quality of life.
Since the launch of the Frailty Service...
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The number of additional patients supported who would not have previously received our care.
The capacity freed up for elective operations at our local NHS hospital.
The number of months in which this success was achieved. But we have only just scratched the surface.
Roger's story
"I was totally uncertain about what tomorrow was going to bring and I was scared. A week later I feel like a totally different person and I’m looking forward to life."
Roger was transferred to Garden House Hospice Care after losing the use of his legs overnight and struggling to stay mobile in hospital. The Hospice has played a valuable role in his journey to recovery, independence and integration back into the community that he loves.
Our expansion plan
We’re on a mission to grow these life-changing services to ensure no one in our community is left behind. By expanding the Compassionate Neighbours scheme and Wellbeing Hubs, we aim to:
- Reach 1,000 community members, up from 719 active matches today.
- Train 100 new Compassionate Neighbours, adding to the 495 already making a difference.
- Open three new Wellbeing Hubs across North Hertfordshire, building on our existing twelve hubs.
- Recruit dedicated staff, including a Wellbeing Hub Coordinator and a Band 6 Nurse.
This expansion is not just about numbers; it’s about changing lives today, tomorrow and in the future.
How you can help
To meet our vision, we require £412,000 to further develop this service and meet the full need. Over Christmas, we launched our Brighter Christmas campaign, which has already raised over £120,000. However, we need to raise the additional funds by the end of March to secure the future impact of this life-changing service.
Your donation
£19 could cover our Frailty Nurse in A&E for an hour, identifying people who this service can help
£61 could pay for a physiotherapy session, focused on keeping someone independent for as long as possible
£200 could fund additional tests for volunteer drivers to safely transport people to and from our Wellbeing Hubs
