Written question WQ86419

Our 2020 strategy, Connected Communities, was an important step in building stronger, social connections in Wales.

Anyone, at any age can experience feelings of loneliness or social isolation. However, the strategy recognises certain groups are more vulnerable, such as older people and certain life events can trigger these feelings, such as a bereavement.

We have worked with Public Health Wales, the Campaign to End Loneliness and Samaritans Cymru through our Loneliness and Social Isolation Advisory Group.

A key commitment in the strategy is the three-year, £1.5m Connected Communities Loneliness and Social Isolation Fund, which supports local, grass-roots organisations, which bring people of all ages together, helping them to build social connections in and across communities.

The fund has been allocated equally across Wales to local authorities and county voluntary councils working in partnership to build the capability and sustainability of these front-line, grassroots, voluntary and community organisations.

Feedback from the partnerships has been overwhelmingly positive. The fund has provided inclusive and supportive activities across urban and rural communities and has benefitted a wide range of groups including those for older people. Funding will continue until March 2024.

Taking forward the commitment in the Delivery Plan for the Strategy for an Ageing Society, we have allocated £50k funding to each of the local authorities in Wales this financial year. The funding will allow each authority to appoint a lead officer to drive local activity in becoming Age Friendly Communities.

This will help boost community activity and provide more opportunities for social interaction and cohesion. We are running quarterly network meetings with the lead officers to support progress as they work towards World Health Organisation status as age friendly communities and cities.

We are also exploring with local authorities and third sector partners what further measures can be put in place to provide additional support throughout the winter, including the provision of warm community spaces to where people can meet and take part in activities over the coming months. We have allocated £1 million to support this work which will be developed locally to meet local needs.

Social prescribing can also help older people connect with services that can help reduce loneliness and isolation and improve health and well-being. Our Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a national framework for social prescribing and a task and finish group has been established to help drive this work forward.