Loneliness Taskforce in collaboration with Seán Moynihan of ALONE to coordinate an All-Ireland response to the epidemic of loneliness and social isolation in Ireland. As part of the Loneliness Taskforce we have been working with a range of groups to help increase awareness about the issue and to produce a set of recommendations for Government, state agencies and all policy members.
It is known that loneliness and social isolation are some of the greatest public health risks of today. Loneliness is now as prevalent in the young as it is in the elderly, it just manifests itself differently.
Some things to consider about loneliness and social isolation:
1 in 3 older people live alone and research shows that loneliness can decrease life expectancy by up to 10 years.
Research shows that loneliness and social isolation are harmful to our health and are worse for us than well- known risk factors such as obesity and physical inactivity
In the UK, research in 2014 showed that 40% of all older people say the television is their main company
Loneliness never discriminates between young and old, rich and poor or urban and rural and that is why more needs to be done to tackle the scourge of loneliness and social isolation.
Through the Loneliness Taskforce we will produce a report on what is needed to tackle the epidemic of loneliness across the island of Ireland. The Taskforce includes a range of people from the community and voluntary sectors, nursing, sport, business, medicine, youth work, psychiatry and NGO’s.
I understand the Public Participation Networks give citizens a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities. I believe this to be very important work, it is democracy at its best.
The Loneliness Taskforce would like to formally request your input into the report we are compiling. We would like to hear your suggestions or proposals, to incorporate them into the report that will be published in the coming months. We would be most grateful if you would consider making a submission, but also if you would bring this to the attention of your members who may also be interested in making submissions.
We are asking for suggestions to be broken down into three categories:
(a) Short term proposals (that can be introduced immediately)
(b) Medium term proposals (that may require a longer lead in period)
(c) Long term proposals (that may require long term planning or significant changes)
Detailed submissions or suggestions: Click here:
Tusla to Showcase Intervention & Prevention Best Practice in June
Tusla is in the process of placing Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Initiatives at the heart of everything Tusla do, the focus for Tusla is to provide supportive, coordinated and evidence informed services across the continuum of care that achieve positive outcomes for children and families.
Tusla will hold a showcase event in Dublin on 7 June 2018. At the event Tusla will share and highlight best practice in relation to approaches and programmes which support delivery of low to medium early intervention and prevention practices. Tusla also welcomes examples of innovative practice, which may not yet have an evidence base, but where attempts are being made to measure the impact of the programme.
Tusla hopes this showcase will be a vibrant collaborative event where Tusla and the community and voluntary sector can show examples of evidence based and evidence informed practice and programmes, while also allowing for identification of service innovations where attempts are being made to measure the impact of the intervention or activity.
Tusla is inviting Expressions of Interest from both Tusla and voluntary and community service providers, who may wish to present at the event. Geographic and rural/urban distribution of service provision examples, level of evidence underpinning the intervention, as well as small and large providers will be considered. Interested voluntary and community service providers are asked to complete the following proposal form.
As a high level of interest is anticipated for this event, a shortlisting process will be undertaken.
The expression of interest form is attached.
Note: the deadline for submissions has been extended until Friday, 27 April 2018.
PHONE
