CHFT is proud to be part of a very big team in our area  backing a new community campaign on which launches on March 15.

Looking Our for our Neighbours aims to prevent loneliness in the community and is launched by the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership.

It is encouraging people to do simple things to look out for one another after a recent report by the Health Foundation highlighted how living alone can make older people 50 per cent more likely to find themselves in A&E than those living with family.

The report also found that pensioners living alone are also 25 per cent more likely to develop a mental health condition.

The campaign will launch on March 15 across West Yorkshire and Harrogate and has been co-created with over 100 residents in these areas, drawing on their neighbourly experiences.

Chief Operating Officer, Helen Barker, said:  " We are delighted to support this campaign. It’s amazing what can be achieved from small acts of kindness and it doesn’t have to be the biggest of gestures. We can see the impact of loneliness on so many levels – the list is endless and we can all do our bit to make a positive difference in our neighbourhoods. A smile, a chat in a supermarket, or doing a small chore for our neighbours can go a long way in brightening up a person’s day’. I’ve started already – have you?’

As well as ourselves, the campaign is also being backed by a number of other high-profile supporters including organisations such as Jo Cox Loneliness Foundation, the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, Healthwatch, hospitals, councils, housing organisations, rugby clubs and many community and voluntary groups, including Dementia UK (Admiral Nurses), Mencap and Age UK.

Rob Webster, CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership and CEO for South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust said: “People of all ages can feel alone for a variety of reasons, especially in winter. "This important campaign is a helpful reminder that it’s often the smallest acts of kindness that make the biggest difference to a person’s life. As neighbours, we could all look out for each other a bit more and local organisations can also help bring people together in shared endeavours."

The Partnership has allocated £1m to support voluntary and community organisations in our local areas - Bradford District and Craven, Calderdale, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield – bringing greater connection and happiness to our communities.”

 As part of the campaign launch 30,000 households across West Yorkshire and Harrogate will receive a hand-delivered ‘neighbour pack’ that will include a range of different resources to inspire and encourage residents to champion togetherness in their area and look out for a neighbour in need.

The pack will focus on the simple acts of kindness that will make a huge difference to the people around them - such as meeting for a cuppa, offering a lift or even just saying ‘hello’.

Our Chief Operating Officer, Helen Barker, said:  "We all know how it feels to have a bad day and while the pressures may be different for everyone, it only takes a kind word or small gesture of help to stop us feeling quite so alone. We are delighted to support the Looking Out for our Neighbours campaign and promoting it within our Trust and to my 6,000 colleagues."