How the '˜transformative' power of the arts can battle loneliness

A survey on behalf of Arts Council England (ACE) found 76 per cent of over 65s felt arts and culture were important in making them feel happy, and more than half said it was an important way of helping them to meet other people.

ACE said the research could highlight how cultural activities could be key to help tackle social isolation and loneliness.

More than half of the people surveyed said arts and culture were important in making them feel less alone, while 60 per cent said it was important in making the feel healthy and encouraging them to get out and about.

The Yorkshire Post has been campaigning to raise awareness about loneliness since February 2014.

The survey results also showed that over half of older people, 52 per cent, said they attend or participate less in arts and cultural activity now than in their teenage years, with respondents citing better access to venues and having someone to go with as key ways in which to encourage attendance from this age group.

Darren Henley, chief executive of ACE, said the arts can help to “significantly “improve health and wellbeing.

He said: “With research showing that engagement in the arts tails off as people get older, we need to get cleverer about how we engage older people and tackle the barriers to taking part. Later in the year, we will be making new funds available for arts organisations to build on some of the great work they are already doing to enhance engagement with the older population.”

ACE is encouraging older people to experience cultural activities, from high profile performances, to informal, free events in other settings.

At West Yorkshire Playhouse (WYP) in Leeds, 300 over-50s take part in arts activities each week in the Heydays project, which has been running since 1990.

Last autumn, it paired with the Time to Shine loneliness initiative in the city to take Heydays out of the city centre and into surrounding towns and villages like Rothwell and Gipton.

Nicky Taylor, community development manager at WYP, said: “People tell us time and time again that Heydays is a lifeline, because it gives them social opportunities.

“Attending Heydays for the first time can be a daunting experience for people who haven’t engaged with others in a long time, so we make sure we have a ‘friendly face’ to welcome newcomers.

“And by taking it into the community, the idea is to take the creative experience to the doorsteps of those who might not have the confidence to come into the city.”

In Sheffield, arts and culture have been rooted in a new £6m-lottery funded project tackling loneliness, Age Better in Sheffield.

It is being run by South Yorkshire Housing Association, whose founder was inspired by the 1966 film Cathy Come Home. Projects in the six-year programme have included a spoken word event for older people on the topic of ageing, and work with Passages Theatre Company on the subject of loneliness with older people living in one of SYHA’s extra care scheme. It sparked debate that helped SYHA identify the biggest issues for older people, and design programme interventions.

Current activities include using drama therapy and using film, photography and illustration in the creation of toolkit that will help people to tackle loneliness in their own neighbourhoods.

Age Better in Sheffield programme lead Gareth Parkin said: “Our founder John Belcher was inspired to set up South Yorkshire Housing Association after watching Ken Loach’s Cathy Come Home. The transformative power of arts and culture, and the effect it can have on our wellbeing is in our DNA - whether it’s one of the many art groups we run, Age Better in Sheffield or providing opportunities to work with some of the best professional artists in the country.”

- Age Better in Sheffield is seeking volunteers with an interest in photography, video, writing or journalism for a new project.

A toolkit is being created that will be sent to 7,000 homes in the Burngreave Ward and will help people understand what triggers loneliness. To volunteer visit www.agebettersheff.co.uk