A GROUND-BREAKING scheme focused on reducing loneliness has been hailed a success by the Minister for Civil Society during a visit to the city.
Worcestershire County Council’s ‘Reconnections’ service, which has been operating since August last year, has helped 600 people tackle loneliness and aims to reduce the knock-on costs to the health system.
The Reconnections service is provided by Age UK Herefordshire and Worcestershire, together with local voluntary and community organisations.
Reconnections covers the whole of Worcestershire and aims to reduce older people’s feelings of loneliness by reconnecting them with interests, sharing skills and activities in their local communities.
Rob Wilson MP declared his commitment to the programme at the showcase event ‘Tackling Loneliness’, which took place at The Hive on May 19.
The minister was keen to talk about why local authorities should commission for outcomes, and used the Reconnections programme as an example of how such an approach can get “to the heart of some of the most entrenched social problems we face.”
He said: “Paying for outcomes lies at the heart of transforming services, making sure taxpayers’ money focused on getting the best outcomes for the most disadvantaged members of local communities.”
Coun John Smith, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Health and Well-Being, said: “With recent figures suggesting that over a million people aged 65+ regularly experience loneliness, it is hugely important that we address this issue.
“In tackling the health effects of loneliness, we will also be helping reduce accompanying costs and pressure on services. We are proud of the positive impact Reconnections is having on lonely people across Worcestershire, and we are delighted to be the first Council in the Country to spearhead this new approach.”
To find out more about Reconnections, visit the website www.reconnectionsservice.org.uk
