Make a Difference

Community Training Sessions

Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the community training sessions that were advertised to take place in October. If you would be interested in attending possible future sessions, please email classes@shetland.gov.uk to note your interest.

Training Sessions for Organisations represented on the Shetland Partnership

Anyone who works in an organisation represented on the Shetland Partnership can attend the following training sessions. If you would like to request a place at a training session, please email workforce.developmentteam@shetland.gov.uk

Date	Time	Venue
25 October 2018	10 am - 12 pm	Islesburgh Community Centre
7 November 2018	10 am - 12 pm	Islesburgh Community Centre
4 December 2018	10 am - 12 pm	Islesburgh Community Centre
5 February 2019	10 am - 12 pm	Islesburgh Community Centre
5 March 2019	10 am - 12 pm	Islesburgh Community Centre

Isolation and Loneliness can be experienced by anyone, anywhere; from remote communities to the centre of metropolises. The impacts are only now becoming known (JRF, 2013).

For example:

• Increased risk of depression
• 64% increased risk of developing clinical dementia
• Increased risk of high blood pressure
• An equivalent risk factor for early mortality to smoking 15 cigarettes a day
• A greater impact than other risk factors such as physical inactivity and obesity


And lonely people:

• Are vulnerable to alcohol problems
• Eat less well – they are less likely to eat fruit and vegetables
• Are more likely to be smokers and more likely to be overweight
• Are less likely to engage in physical activity and exercise.

So what can we all do?

• Think about people in our local community who may be lonely, for any reason, and think what and how we can make a difference to their lives
• Lead by example and encourage others to do so too
• Attend training sessions, designed to explore the role we can each play within our communities to reduce loneliness, isolation and stigma

Further information and research:

• Deprivation and Social Exclusion in Shetland
• Poverty Is Bad - Let's Fix It!
• Kinder Communities
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation

The short film at the top of this page sets out local findings and solutions.