Supporting isolated, vulnerable older people, KiB's imaginative training and volunteering programme 'Creative Thoughtfulness' enables young people aged 15-25 to have a greater understanding of older age and discover how simple ideas and small acts of kindness can transform the loneliest lives.
Categories
Beneficiaries
Situation
Loneliness and its debilitating effect on physical and mental health is a crisis of our modern society, especially prevalent amongst the most vulnerable: older and young people. The Governments’ 2021 Loneliness Report stated 6%- 18% of the population experience feelings of loneliness, the largest group are young people aged 16-24 followed by those much older, near the end of life. The Campaign to End Loneliness predicts 49% increase in over 50s suffering loneliness, 1.5M in 2016 - 2M by 2026.
Solution
We tackle loneliness through imaginative, interactive projects delivered in hospitals, care homes, at home/online (safely), for vulnerable, isolated older people throughout the UK, engaging young people who grow in confidence, empathy, understanding. A structured training course is followed by supported regular volunteering whereby students maximise their talents and develop life skills, giving companionship, sharing experiences with seniors, lighting up their day.
