Tackling loneliness
Feeling lonely can harm your mental health. If you are feeling lonely, you may want to get more involved in your community or volunteer to help others. There are many activities that you can get actively involved within Central Bedfordshire.
The Council supports the voluntary and community sector in our area, funding lots of different schemes. Residents interested in volunteering can enquire and sign up through CVS Bedfordshire or Beds RCC – Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity.
Things you can do in Central Bedfordshire:
- adult community activities
- activities for families
- activities for over 50s
- Grove Theatre, Dunstable
- Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre
- No Limits disability groups
- volunteering
- Walk 4 Health
- walking in Central Bedfordshire
Libraries
Leisure centres
Find your local leisure centre.
Other activities
- ‘Just Ask’ - Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire provides information, advice, and guidance about local social care, health, housing, and other services
- Come along and join Time 2 Connect at Houghton Hall Park for weekly Café Connect social group sessions
- Village and Community Agents provide support to isolated and vulnerable residents. Visit The Bedfordshire Rural Communities Charity website to find a community agent near you
- Leighton-Linslade Town Council funds a Community Agent to provide free support for residents of Leighton Buzzard
- Leighton-Linslade Town Council also offers a handy online local directory of activities
- Carers in Beds hosts groups, workshops, and events for carers and former carers. Check out their What’s On Calendar
- BLMK MIND offers a variety of support services, including peer support groups, mentoring, and activities for mental health and wellbeing
- Every year, Health Watch Central Bedfordshire hosts a Festival for Older People with information, activities, and entertainment
- Community Wellbeing Champions offer personalised support to help you take control of your health and wellbeing
- Visit one of two warm spaces in Bedfordshire to enjoy a hot drink, company, and support
- Sight Concern provides social activities, including telephone befriending, IT support, and talking newspapers
- Timebanking is a great way to share and exchange your time and skills with others
Greensand Country Community Transport
Disabled access buses offer a door-to-door service to help you access everyday activities. Check the link to see if we operate in your area.
Support
Lots of people need help because they are older, disabled, or have long-term health conditions. We have commissioned Community Catalyst to connect those who need care with local people and small businesses that can help. They manage a directory called Small Good Stuff, which lists local support services.
Getting out and meeting others can be difficult. There are helplines like Samaritans and MIND that offer support.
You can contact Silver Line at 0800 4 70 80 90 (24-hour helpline) for a friendly chat or advice if you feel lonely.
Marmalade Trust is the UK’s leading loneliness charity offering resources to help combat loneliness.
Independent Age offers guides and opportunities to volunteer and help others. You can download the If you’re feeling lonely booklet from their website.
Age UK provides a telephone befriending service for older people aged 50 or over, offering a friendly ear for support.
The NHS website has lots of useful advice about loneliness.