New campaign to help loneliness among students around Plymouth

Former youth worker now politician wants to bring people together

Plymouth’s large student population is among the people a former youth worker now politician wants to help as he makes it his mission to end loneliness.

Gareth Streeter wants to build on work already done in the city by compiling a directory of all groups, services and activities that help bring people together and eradicate isolation including 20,000 university students.

Mr Streeter, the Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Plymouth Sutton & Devonport, said loneliness is often associated with the elderly but it could impact people of all ages, particularly students coming to a new city. He says that’s why he has created the ‘Plymouth Against Loneliness’ or Pal campaign.

“I know there is already great work going on in Plymouth and information on Plymouth City Council’s website, but I wanted to create another contact point where people can find out about everything from professional counselling services and support groups to informal book clubs and litter picks.”

He said the covid years and subsequent lockdowns, although necessary, had been detrimental to the social development of young people and destroyed social confidence, and even in a bustling city like Plymouth there are plenty of people who feel alone.

“I think people look at students and think they are having the time of their lives and everything is harmonious, but it can be very scary, moving away from home and friends for the first time and having to learn to form new relationships without anyone you can turn to.

“Human beings were not created to be alone. We are a social species and when situations or circumstances cause us to be isolated, it creates real risks to our physical and mental health.”

Mr Streeter said as a former youth and community worker, and more recently as a politician, he had encountered people and groups trying to bring people together including Mutley Baptist Church which puts on events to help people meet others.

“This campaign isn’t about reinventing the wheel.  It will help draw attention to this existing work and promote activities that help people take that first step to reaching out. ”

Plymouth Against Loneliness has started with a Facebook group where people and groups can share information. There will be an anti-loneliness audit calling for details about groups, activities and services that help tackle the issue and a community directory that will be published on Mr Streeter’s website.

He is calling for all politicians, particularly councillors, across the city to get behind the campaign so they use their combined knowledge and influence for a good cause.

The BBC’s Loneliness Experiment found that 40 per cent of young people now feel lonely compared to 27 per cent of over 75s.