Peterborough residents suffering isolation are reminded ‘You are not alone’

With Loneliness Awareness Week running from June 15-21, Peterborough City Council is urging anyone feeling lonely to ‘Give Loneliness a Voice’ in order to reduce the stigma associated with isolation and make talking openly about it easier.

In addition, the council is also encouraging people in general to be more open about loneliness and urging everyone to remember that a simple conversation, a shared moment of understanding, or a small step to reach out can make a meaningful difference.

Real-life experiences of loneliness

It is often the case that loneliness can manifest as a result of significant life changes.

One new mother described how isolating it felt to move to Peterborough just before having her baby.

Without nearby family, friends or a support network, the early days felt long and uncertain. She didn’t know where to go or who to talk to, and it was easy to feel disconnected and lonely.

Joining a local baby group became an important step as it gave the woman a space to meet other parents, share experiences and feel like part of a community. For her, giving loneliness a voice meant taking that first step into a room where she didn’t know anyone, and realising she was not alone in how she felt.

Other significant life events such as relationship breakdown can also be catalysts for loneliness.

After a divorce, one man described how quiet life suddenly became, and how much he missed everyday conversations and routines and how he felt he had lost his purpose in life.

It was not something he initially found easy to talk about, and for a time he kept those feelings to himself. Over time, opening up and getting involved in local activities helped him rebuild a sense of connection. Speaking about his loneliness was not easy, but it was the first step towards changing how he felt.

While these experiences show how loneliness can affect adults during times of change, insight from the 2024 Health Related Behaviour Survey highlights how young people are also affected.

Around one in five secondary school pupils in Peterborough reported feeling lonely ‘often or always’. While this was consistent across age groups, there is a notable gender difference, with around one in four female pupils experiencing loneliness compared to one in seven male pupils.

Together, these stories and insights are stark reminders of how loneliness can affect anyone, at any stage of life. They underline the importance of creating supportive, connected communities where people feel able to reach out, be heard, and know they are not alone.

You are not alone in Peterborough - help and support is available

Whether adjusting to a new stage in life, managing health concerns, or simply feeling disconnected, there are people and services across the city that are on hand to help.

The How Are You Peterborough website brings together a wide range of local opportunities and support that can help improve wellbeing. Whether people are looking for ideas to boost their mood (such as joining a singing group or sports club), or simply somewhere to have a chat over a cuppa, there are options to suit different needs.

Support looks different for everyone, and the website makes it easy to find local services that support all aspects of wellbeing. Across the city, the council’s Family Hubs also offer invaluable ways to meet others, build connections and feel part of the community.

Loneliness Awareness Week, hosted by Marmalade Trust, is the world's largest campaign to inspire conversations about loneliness and promote connection activities happening across the world.

Visit www.marmaladetrust.org to find out more.