One of our delivery partners is fond of saying: There's no such thing as "social isolation light."

People rarely become socially isolated because of one simple factor that can be easily fixed. People usually face multiple and complex barriers to getting socially involved in their communities again. 

Time to Shine's role is to help, but it often requires patience, persistence, and a bespoke approach. 

Our Supporting Wellbeing partners offer just that. A city-wide project, they receive referrals from medical teams, GPs, and others for people who are isolated or lonely due to frailty and complicated health problems. 

With the flexibility and resource to offer ongoing support, the Supporting Wellbeing teams can engage with people as often and long-term if required. 

For example, they have made eighteen home visits to help a man with incontinence, bipolar disorder, and a potential undiagnosed learning disability. With the right level of consistent support, he has started participating at his local neighbourhood network scheme and is regaining some independence. Supporting Wellbeing are also working well with social care to ensure that any decline is spotted and addressed early. 

Another project has helped a 74-year-old woman overcome problems associated with COPD, arthritis, and mobility problems to engage with her local neighbourhood network scheme and access a higher rate of Attendance Allowance so that she can afford to stay socially active. 

Her thank-you note says it all: 

Beyond improving the lives of these and other individuals, the SW projects will also provide a body of robust evidence about what it really takes to support and engage frail older people, so that this group does not get overlooked by future health and social care provision.