Working to build communities and reduce loneliness and isolation in Sandbach
Hope Street Social CIC has emerged from our experience running Brightstone Clinic, a therapy centre in Sandbach. Although Sandbach is an affluent area, we see the hidden struggles of local people on a daily basis. In 2023 alone we have worked with people who are isolated due to domestic violence, abuse, bereavement and other traumas. We have recently worked with an 80-year-old man who was attacked and consequently tried to take his own life. After a period of hospitalisation, he contacted us for therapy just because he needed someone to talk to. The social club is for people like this man, who need a space to belong and feel safe. Throughout the pandemic and beyond, we have been that safe space for over 400 people who have come to us for counselling support. Our hope is to now take that support wider and offer something to help people locally build and maintain meaningful connections and relationships.
Along with nature connection, social interaction is clinically proven to help people to feel better and even strengthen the immune system. As our world becomes more digitalised and artificially intelligent, we are hoping to continue to embrace the old ways of meeting in person, to deepen into our personhood and find strength and solidarity with our fellow humans.
The current cost of living crisis means people cannot afford to meet others in the usual places, and individuals and families are struggling. In particular people with diagnoses such as ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and/or ADHD ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) lack meeting places that understand their challenges and can help to foster supportive relationships in a friendly environment. We have also, through our connection with the Congleton Area Ukrainian Support Network CAUSN, become aware that there is a need for a support group meeting space for Ukrainians in the UK Hosting Scheme. Alongside this need for social connection, there is a growing need for evidence-based psychotherapy that is affordable for local people. Waiting lists in local NHS services are not responsive to need, and private services are out of the financial reach of most local people on the average UK wage.
