Simple social interactions are one of the quickest and easiest ways to help people feel less lonely or isolated – it might sound like a straightforward thing to do, but for older people who may have lost some confidence in getting out and about, or they’re managing health or caring responsibilities, it can sometimes prove challenging. Our social groups, like this one in Weymouth, Dorset, are the perfect example of how an accessible and inclusive gathering at the heart of the community can help bring people together, build relationships, and support people in feeling less lonely.

Re-engage Engagement Team Manager, Ed, explained: “Following some research, it became clear that many older people in Weymouth were isolated and were experiencing loneliness, but on the positive side, there’s a real sense of community in the town. As a team, we are always on the lookout for areas where there are prospective volunteers who’re willing to get involved and make a difference - Weymouth felt like a place with that kind of energy. The combination of there being a clear need, along with a pool of volunteers, meant it made sense to focus our efforts there.”

With the location agreed, the next step was to secure the perfect venue for the planned Re-engage social group. It needed to be accessible, safe and somewhere people would want to visit – and it turned out Weymouth had just the place, as Ed explained: “Weymouth Pavilion is right at the heart of the town - not just geographically, but in spirit too. It’s a visible, well-loved community space that’s always looking for new ways to support local people.

“We’re lucky to have a fantastic group coordinator, Chantal, who leads from the front and made sure all our guests felt comfortable and welcome. We searched high and low for around a year to find the right volunteers to help bring the group to life. Our Engagement Officers spent time understanding what was needed to make the group a success – for example, Ruth secured some funding with support from our fundraising team to help cover costs, Atiyah led the push to recruit and connect with volunteers, and Ellie pulled everything together for the launch, including arranging volunteer meet-and-greets before sessions began.

“We launched on a gloriously sunny day in Weymouth, tea and coffee flowed and everyone settled in for a good old natter. It was lovely to see new connections already starting to form. We even had a visit from the Mayor of Weymouth, Councillor Jon Orrell, which made the event feel very special indeed.”