Loneliness Awareness Week

Loneliness Awareness week 2021

Loneliness Awareness week 2021: Direct2Florist tackle with the ‘power-of-flower’ in support of The Marmalade Trust

This week in Shirehampton courtesy of Beaus Bouquets keep your eyes peeled for flowers left for you to find and share with a friend, loved one or member of the community, to help spread joy & happiness.

June 14th, 2021, marks the start of the 5th annual Loneliness Awareness Week. Hosted by Marmalade Trust, the week was designed to encourage people to see loneliness as a blank canvas on which they can paint new friend and experiences.

Direct2Florist, and its network if over 800 local florists nationwide, are making the week by using the power of flower to spread a message of giving and connection.

When asked about the power of giving flowers, Wendy Rea from D@F explained that “Having been on the front line of flower deliveries this last 12 months, we here at Direct2Florist have seen the joy that flowers can bring, especially when someone cannot be there to express their thoughts and love in person. During the week, florists across the country will be leaving a fresh bunch of posies in public locations for members of the community to find. The message behind this is simple: spread joy and brighten an unsuspecting person’s day with flowers.

On each of the bunch of flowers there will be a short message of goodwill. Alongside this, the ambition is for finders of the flowers to pass these on to other unsuspecting ndividuals to continue the chain of giving.

Wendy Rea goes on to explain why this has become a passionate project: “Delivery drivers often comment on the recipient’s reaction. Especially the elderly and people who are alone.

“We wanted to do a little something during Loneliness Awareness week that highlighted how lovely it is to be thought about by sending flowers to people that would really apricate them. It really means a lot to us.

“We may be getting round to some sort of normality but there are still people out there with no one to talk to or be with and we want to raise the awareness not just by sending flowers but by perhaps just saying hello.”

The owners have taken the decision to change their plans of holding Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court Estate in 2021, instead they are planning ‘Fiesta Fortnight’ with flypasts and ballooning spectaculars for the city this August.

Due to the continued uncertainty regarding organising large scale events within HM Government’s roadmap out of Covid-19 lockdown, they said it will not be possible to stage the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court Estate this year.

They understand this will be a disappointment to the visitors, as well as the various businesses and organisations across the city and region that benefit from the significant economic impact of the event taking place. It really is not a decision that they have taken lightly. They have considered a number of alternatives to deliver the fiesta using the various measures currently being trialled by public events, however, these significantly change the ethos and accessibility which is at the heart of the fiesta. Without any certainty that we will be able to stage the event with no limits on capacity in August, it means a huge financial gamble of a seven-figure sum.

However, they said: “We are determined to continue to put a show on for the city and we will deliver a number of launches across the city and region during the first two weeks of August”. These events will be designed for members of the public to enjoy at a distance, from the safety of their own homes and communities.

They will announce further details over the coming weeks, however, if you would like to to nominate the locations you would like to see balloons launch from by visiting this link – https://forms.office.com/r/nUp8QzfPVP