Isabel Hospice has teamed up with Herts-based brewery McMullen to help combat loneliness in the community.
The charity is partnering with the family-run pub chain on a new social meet-up pilot scheme as part of the Hospice’s Compassionate Neighbours initiative.
Three pubs are participating – The Bull in Broxbourne, The Crocodile in Cheshunt and The Vine in Waltham Cross – and eight members of McMullen staff have already undertaken bespoke Compassionate Neighbours training to host facilitated meet-ups starting this summer.
Isabel launched Compassionate Neighbours three years ago with the aim of matching specially trained volunteers to offer friendship and a listening ear to local people who are experiencing loneliness or social isolation either through illness, age or circumstances.
In that time, 176 people have been matched to increase their social interaction and 127 Compassionate Neighbours have been trained to offer social, emotional and practical support to someone in need.
During the pandemic, the Hospice continued offering telephone and virtual matches, with some Neighbours still able to provide support in practical ways, such as shopping, collecting prescriptions and delivering meals to the most vulnerable.
The events of the past year have, however, highlighted more than ever the need for building Compassionate Communities, with the partnership with McMullen the first step in looking at forming virtual hubs, cafes or pub meet-ups. These will not only support people to make new friendships and better connect them into their local communities, thereby increasing their network of support, but also to embrace loss and bereavement together.
Compassionate Neighbours co-ordinator Kharlie Staves said: “Our collaboration with McMullen is a really exciting step forward as we look to extend and expand Compassionate Neighbours and work towards creating a network of self-sustaining social connections across our area with an open route of support back to the Hospice if needed.
“This way, more people are linked to others, increasing peer support and preventing a dependence on one single individual as well as offering more ways that Compassionate Neighbours can be involved.”
McMullen Head of People Development Amanda Walden said: “This is a great partnership for McMullen and we are really excited to see how we can develop the Compassionate Neighbours project within our business.
“The training so far has been well received by our team, and now it is time to put that into action and start some meeting groups.”
The first McMullen meet-ups are taking place at The Crocodile on August 5th at 3pm, The Bull on August 9th at 2pm and The Vine on August 10th at 5pm. For more information, call Compassionate Neighbours co-ordinator Kharlie Staves on 07703 808640 or email kharlie.staves@isabelhospice.org.uk. Further details about Compassionate Neighbours, can be found here.
Upcoming dates:
- The Crocodile in Cheshunt – 05/08/21 at 3pm
- The Bull in Broxbourne – 09/08/21 at 2pm
- The Vine in Waltham Cross – 10/08/21 at 5pm
