We are delighted to share information from Carr Gomm about their powerful new campaign
Carr Gomm, a leading social care and community development charity, has launched a new fundraising campaign in a bid to tackle loneliness in communities across Scotland.
The organisation aims to raise £30,000 to fund a variety of local projects and activities that will bring communities together and help people establish long lasting connections and friendships.
The campaign, entitled Team Carr Gomm, is designed to be inclusive so people can get involved no matter what their age or level of mobility.
The charity is asking people to pledge a target distance, which will then be added to a 1,000 mile virtual route around Scotland.
Miles can be clocked up in any way possible, be it walking, dancing, swimming or in a wheelchair push challenge – as long as people are getting active, being social and raising some money along the way.
Within days of the campaign launching Team Carr Gomm has raised over £1,000 with a total of 1,263 miles pledged.
Eilidh MacDonald, senior operations manager for Community Development at Carr Gomm, said:
“Loneliness is fast becoming a social epidemic so it’s vital that we take action now to reduce the staggering statistic that one in ten (11 per cent) of adults in Scotland often feel lonely.
“The money raised from this campaign will go towards funding much-needed projects and activities for people of all ages and stages but across Scotland. We would love for as many people as possible to get involved.”
The campaign has since received the backing from a number of MPs and MSPs including Ash Denham, MSP for Edinburgh Eastern.
Ash said: “Carr Gomm is a fantastic charity that has done some great work in the constituency.
“The majority of us will feel lonely at some point in our life, and without anyone to reach out to it can become a horrible cycle of social isolation.
“By organising projects and activities in the local community, Carr Gomm helps to bring people together and draw them out of that isolation. The projects they run in my constituency of Edinburgh Eastern have been really successful.
“Craigmillar Community Grows is excellent in helping to build relationships in a community garden setting, while Men in Sheds helps men share skill sets and get back into permanent employment.
“It is really important to take care of mental and physical health, and tackling loneliness and social isolation plays a big role in keeping people healthy. I am delighted to lend my support to their worthwhile campaign.”
Other MPs and MSPs backing the campaign are:
· Annie Wells, MSP for Glasgow
· Claire Haughey, MSP for Rutherglen
· Gail Ross, MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
· Jeremy Balfour, MSP for Lothian
· Tommy Sheppard, MP for Edinburgh East
To find out more about Team Carr Gomm and to sign up or donate to the cause, visit www.teamcarrgomm.
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